Rehab process must preserve culture,livelihood: HC

Noting that the rehabilitation package for fishermen displaced by the Tarapur power project must involve preservation of their livelihood and culture

Noting that the rehabilitation package for fishermen displaced by the Tarapur power project must involve preservation of their livelihood and culture,the Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the state government to co-ordinate with the Thane district administration on the issue.

The court has also asked the government to consider grievances of the fishermen independently of the municipal corporation and asked it to file an affidavit stating the steps undertaken in this regard.

Rehabilitation of the families affected by the project does not merely involve giving them houses. It means giving them a capacity to earn. Earlier,they (fishermen) had boats and fishing equipment,but now they cannot use the same. They are not skilled in anything else. They cannot sit in an office and work, Justice Ranjana Desai said,stressing the need to preserve their culture.

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Earlier,the counsel for the NPCL,Rajiv Kumar,had argued that the fishermen had not objected to the compensation paid to them. However,Justice Desai said,They are poor people. Perhaps they initially jumped at the compensation package and later understood the difficulties involved.

The court was hearing a petition filed by 53 fishermen families who have been displaced by the project. The families claimed they have lost their livelihood as they have been rehabilitated in New Pophran village,which is 10 kilometres away from the coast.

The case has been adjourned for two weeks.

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