Mumbai fisherfolk plan citywide protest as BMC relocates its market to basement

A major showdown is brewing between Mumbai's indigenous fishing community and the BMC over the space allocated to the latter in the redeveloped Crawford Market.

- Linah Baliga

The BMC intends to relocate the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Fish Market to a basement in the new structure, a plan that has sparked fury among the city’s Koli fisherfolk.

Led by Devendra Damodar Tandel, president of the All Maharashtra Fisherfolk Action Committee, the community, accusing the BMC of betrayal, fraud and a complete disregard for their voice and heritage, is set to launch a citywide protest.

“The BMC is misleading the Koli community,” said Tandel. “In 2020, it had promised to construct a dedicated fish market building of international standards. At no point was there any mention of shifting the market to a basement.”