Mumbai’s fish traders fight eviction as historic Sassoon Dock faces redevelopment
Fish traders at Mumbai’s Sassoon Dock are facing eviction after a long-running legal battle. The move follows a 2014 Supreme Court order, though traders claim authorities are acting unfairly. They argue the shutdown will harm their export business and livelihoods.
The eviction stems from a decade-old dispute over unpaid rent. Seven to eight traders had settled their dues in full, but the Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation (MFDC) failed to pass the payments to the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA). The Supreme Court’s directive now enforces their removal from godown number 1773.
Traders accuse the MbPA and MFDC of working together against them. They insist the eviction is not about rent but part of a broader plan to modernise the dock. The redevelopment aims to turn Sassoon Dock into a world-class, sustainable harbour, addressing long-standing issues of overcrowding, hygiene, and safety.
The Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) is overseeing the handover to MFDC, but central government approval remains pending. Meanwhile, traders warn that shutting down operations will disrupt exports to major markets like Japan, China, and the US. They also argue that modernisation should not come at the cost of displacing Mumbai’s original fishing community.
All godowns at Sassoon Dock will eventually be cleared for the Marine Plaza project and harbour upgrades. The eviction, however, is officially separate from the redevelopment, as per MbPA’s statement.
The traders now face an uncertain future as the eviction proceeds under the Supreme Court’s order. Their exports and businesses hang in the balance, while authorities push ahead with plans to transform the historic dock. The dispute highlights the tension between development and the livelihoods of those who have worked there for decades.
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