MUMBAI, AUG 12: The tussle between Essel World and the local fisherfolk at Gorai seems to be arriving at an amicable solution, finally, with the Minister for Fisheries and Port, Hussain Dalwai, providing an opportunity to both the parties to sort out the matter through discussions.The meeting, which was convened on August eight by Dalwai, was attended by officials from the Maharashtra Maritime Board, Fisheries and Port Departments, apart from the two teams, Essel World - which was led by Ashok Goel and Gorai villagers - led by Damodar Tandel. It was proposed that a committee comprising the representatives of the fisherfolk and the Essel World would be formed to settle the problem.The meeting also resolved that the existing Essel World ferries could not be declared illegal, as the ferry-operations were well within the purview of the law.However, in a significant decision, it was decided that routine passenger movement shall be carried out by the ferries, belonging to the Gorai Machimar Society. But any passenger movement, beyond the capacity of the Society's ferries, shall be catered to by the Essel World ferries.Dalwai then urged that various modalities related to the ferries, like Certified Capacity, MMB certification, staffing, ticket rates and training of the personnel would have to be sorted out at the earliest meeting of the proposed committee.The Essel World-fishermen dispute has been going on for several years, following the former's decision to operate their own ferries. This was opposed by the local fisherfolk and villagers who felt the Essel World was encroaching on their livelihood and daily income. The two parties have also locked horns over several other issues, chief among them being environment-conservation. Fortunately with Minister Dalwai's intervention, the row might soon end.
