Over fifty thousand fishermen families residing in the city and in the Mumbai Metropolitan region, from a time before the government came into existence in city, would have ownership of the houses they are occupying. State Government on Friday made it clear that the places where fish are kept for drying cannot be used for any other purpose. The decision would also be applicable to Thane and Palghar districts where fishermen are staying on collector land. MLAs Ashish Shelar, Manisha Chaudhari, Yogesh Sagar, Prashant Thakur and Sanjay Kelkar had raised this issue trough calling attention motion. Revenue minister Chandrakant Patil told the state Assembly that 7/12 extracts of the houses in which fishermen families are residing from when the city came into being, would be granted to them. He made it clear that demarcation of Koliwada or fishermen colonies is going on and those who are residing in these colonies and Gavthaan areas (original village areas) would be owners of these houses. The demand for demarcation of Koliwadas was being made for the last four years. While preparation for the development plan of Mumbai demarcation has now started, the fishermen community is concerned whether their inclusion would be made in the slum dweller category. MLAs from city as well as from Thane, including MLAs Pratap Sarnaik, Sanjay Kelkar, Jitendra Avhad were raising this issue along with issues of old and dilapidated buildings in Thane areas.

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