Hundreds of fishermen from Mumbai’s western coast gathered outside the District Collector’s office in Bandra East on Monday to oppose the proposed Manori desalination plant, alleging that the project could damage marine life and threaten the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The protesters, who travelled from Manori, Gorai, Madh, Versova, Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Uttan, Vasai and Bhayander, urged the Collector to halt the project. They said its impact on fishing communities had not been adequately studied and claimed that the plant could be avoided altogether.
The protest was scheduled to begin at 10 am, while the gathering at the Collector’s office was reported at noon. Fishermen from Madh alleged that buses carrying protesters were detained by police, forcing several participants to use trains, private vehicles and other modes of transport to reach Bandra East.
The proposed Manori desalination plant would draw seawater and return saline water to the sea. Fishermen said they were concerned about the effect of this process on fish populations and breeding areas. Malcom Jiu, a fisherman from Gorai, said the community did not know what would happen to the ocean if a large quantity of water was extracted and saline water discharged back into it.
Jordan Luji, an Uttan-based fisherman and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena worker, alleged that increased salinity could affect fish such as bombil, kolambi and mandeli. He said the fisheries department should address the concerns alongside other pressures on fishermen, including rising diesel prices.
The protesters also raised concerns about the timing and location of seawater intake. Sandra Gabru, a member of the Gorai fishermen community, said small fish that lay eggs along the coast during April and May could be affected when seawater is drawn into the plant. She said the community had lived in the area for generations and had no other occupation or village.
Switsy Henriques, president of the Gorai Villagers Welfare Association, questioned the need for a desalination plant in Mumbai, arguing that the city receives substantial rainfall. Henriques said desalination plants could be more appropriate in rain-deficient areas and referred to concerns allegedly faced by fishermen near such facilities in Chennai.
Members of fishing communities from Bhayander also said the project could affect coastal areas beyond Manori. Fr Robin Fargose, a member of the Dharavi Bet fishermen community in Bhayander, alleged that saline water could become concentrated in the sea and form sediments, causing losses for the Koli community.
The protest highlights the conflict between efforts to expand urban water infrastructure and the dependence of coastal communities on near-shore marine ecosystems. The fishermen’s objections centre on the project’s possible impact on fish breeding, marine conditions and access to traditional livelihoods. The report did not include a response from the project authorities, the fisheries department or the District Collector on the allegations raised by the protesters.
