Sand dredgers’ committee opposes move as dredging has been stopped since January
THANE: The 2.8km- long Reti Bunder creek in Mumbra will soon undergo a facelift and turn into a tourist hub.
A part of Ulhas r i ve r, Reti Bunder creek has been encroached upon and has changed the landscape of the once beautiful area. “In the 2.8km stretch, there are 81 plots with more than 750 encroachments with houses and shops. Only residential structures will get an alternative space,” said a source from collector’s office.
The encroachers had claimed that it was their land and had petitioned authorities to not take action against them. The houses along the creek are of families of sand dredgers who have living in the area for years.
In the fifties, the Maritime Board gave land to sand dredgers who used to pay to pay rent. This stopped in 2007.
Recently in the Assembly, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis gave his approval for the Reti Bunder creek development plan. He said people living there would be rehabilitated.
Thane collector Ashwini Joshi said: “After the chief minister approved the project, we have instructed the public works department to prepare a development plan.”
Thane collector will conduct a land survey. Since January this year, the Thane collector ordered stopping of sand dredging work at Reti Bunder. This was met with opposition from sand dredgers who had been opposing to the proposed development plan as it would displace them.
Saying that the land belongs to locals, Dashrath Patil, leader of Sand Dredgers’ Committee, added that they have land records since 1959-60. “The project at Reti Bunder will affect 750 families who have been earning from sand dredging. A total of 99 traders, who used 500 small boats, will lose their livelihood,” said Patil.
He said the sand dredging business will completely disappear. “The government should first give us alternative employment,” he said.
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