Wednesday, June 10, 2009

The BRIDGE

the Bandra-Worli sealink

The 'much anticipated' Bandra-Worli Sealink Bridge has been declared to be opened shortly to Mumbai's traffic within a month's time.

The positive effect this BRIDGE will have on the city's life is for time to tell , but the ill effects are already being felt by these fishermen of Mahim.

It has been reported that there has been a huge decrease in the fish catch not only near the city but also as far as Vasai and Uttan in the neighbourhood of Mumbai which has prompted the fishing community to stay out of the seas much earlier than the usual 15th June deadline each year till the end of the monsoons. This is to ensure that more time is available for the breeding of fish to take place and they get a good catch post-monsoon.

At present, most of the catch is young fish, which has to be discarded. The fishermen have been asked to stop fishing till end of the monsoon and allow the young fish to mature. They have also been instructed to use nets with the mesh size not less than eight inches, as anything less makes it difficult for young fish to escape.

Environmental degradation as a result of huge construction activities near the shoreline coupled with indiscriminate fishing have been attributed as the root cause of this problem.