Considered one of the original inhabitants of the city, Kolis are finding it hard to eke out a living due to overfishing, use of purse seine nets, pollution, steep rise in fuel prices and govt apathy. The issue of depleting livelihood is a raging concern among the community that has prompted GenNext to pursue other jobs.
Kolis, who have faced neglect from successive govts both at the state and Centre, seldom vote en bloc. Most mainstream political parties have some foothold in Koliwadas. Some lean towards the Marathi-led Shiv Sena or MNS, others NCP, with old-timers sticking to Congress, while nationalists are enamoured with BJP.
However, these Lok Sabha polls are the first since the split in Shiv Sena and NCP and will be a litmus test in Koliwadas across Maharashtra’s 720-km coastline. In Mumbai region, large settlements are located in Andheri Versova, Khar Danda, Worli, Madh, Colaba, Vasai and Satpati.
Tushar Munde, secretary of Versova Koli Jamat Trust, says, “The next central govt must reduce diesel rates. Secondly, public infra projects must be developed mindfully. Some compensation must be given to us for projects like Coastal Road that hamper fishing. Koliwada boundaries must be identified so that we can redevelop our homes along the coastline. But most political parties only provide false assurances.”
The younger generation of Kolis is staying away from fishing & pursuing other jobs for the sole reason that there are no fish left in the sea
In the Khar Danda settlement, Ratnadeep Bane, chairman of Vyavasik Sahakari Sanstha, says the Coastal Road has decimated shore fishing, leading to a 50% decline in business and made navigation for deep-sea fishing boats challenging.
The community conducted a joint survey with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, fisheries department, Maritime Board, Mangrove Cell, and Kolis from Chimbai, Parmeshwari, Juhu Morgaon and Khar Danda. “We suggested locations for boat navigation based on our knowledge,” says Bane. It also engaged with the MSRDC to establish a clear navigation path. “They allocated two spans on either side of the watchtower, but the blueprint was never shared with us. The designated area has proved to be problematic as it’s too close to the rocks,” recalls Bane.
Creeks resemble cesspools, polluted by industrial effluents and garbage inflow. Versova seafront is a vast expanse of dirty brackish water – one glimpse would deter any buyer of fish here.
“Plastic waste from canals and creeks gets entangled in our nets, obstructing water flow and tearing up our nets,” adds Deepak Nanaposhe of Khar Danda. The community had hoped that the pumping station at the Khar Danda creek, built to mitigate flooding during heavy rains, would trap garbage and clean the nullah waters before it enter the sea. “It’s been a decade, but we see no improvement. Instead, the pumping station has reduced water currents,” he says.
“Illegal use of purse seine nets by LED fishers is another issue,” Bane says. Despite a statewide ban in Maharashtra since 2017, fishermen from Alibaug and Raigarh still use high-power LED lamps to attract and catch large quantities of fish. “The volume of fish they catch in a single day equals our catch over three months. They also catch baby fish, depleting the fish population,” adds Bane.
Devendra Tandel, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, says, “Fishing is undergoing a drastic change in terms of methods and demographics. Modernisation of fishing vessels has resulted in uncontrolled overfishing, depleting the stock of fish in the sea. Ghol and pomfret are on the brink of extinction. Costs are high so fish is more expensive.”
Tandel says their industry does not merely involve a Koli fisherman who goes out to sea and his wife who sells fish in the market. “There are ‘khalashis’ (boat workers), tandels (captains of fishing vessels), logistics labourers, transporters, women involved in fish cutting, net makers, ice factory and cold storage workers, wholesalers, suppliers, exporters and local vendors.”
The younger generation of Kolis is staying away from fishing “for the sole reason that there are no fish left in the sea,” Tandel says. “No catch means no income, and recurring cost. So, our youth opt for other jobs, even as people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have got involved in menial work, thereby eating away the share of fisherwomen. The younger generation hopes for better infrastructure and sustainable fishing that involves govt officials doing their job in letter and spirit.”