Mumbai: Navy yet to get NOC from fisheries dept for no-fishing zone in front of its helibase

The staff of INS Shikra has raised highlighted their concerns in the past as it becomes critical when VVIPs like President, Vice-President and Prime Minister come and Shikra is the landing spot. The waterfront is the designated landing area and the presence of these boats is an obstruction for the safe operation of helicopters.

The Navy has proposed that a 100-metre area from the wall of INS Shikra be cordoned with ropes and buoys as this would prevent the entry of fishing boats close to the wall. The Navy has got NOC from Mumbai Port Trust and the Maharashtra Maritime Board but the same is still pending from the fisheries department.

In a meeting held on November 20, 2020, the chief secretary had directed the state fisheries department to give NOC and it is yet to come. The issue was raised again with Chief Secretary S J Kunte in a meeting held in the third week of September.

Rajiv Nivatkar, Collector of Mumbai City, said that the fisheries department had to decide on the no-fishing zone.

Fisheries Commissioner Atul Patne said, “There are many boats which go around the Shikra base. But there are eight fishermen, who fish right next to the Shikra wall. They claim that their families do fishing since British times. We are ready to relocate them, but they want jobs. This is a question of national security and the Navy is right.”

Devendra Tandel of Akhil Maharashtra Machimar Kruti Samit, “All these years there was no hindrance. How come they have suddenly demanded a no-fishing zone around Shikra?”