22 hrs ago
Pune Fishermen Protest Ujani Dam Fishing Contract, Floating Solar Project
Fishermen gathered at Ujani Dam to protest two proposed projects.
One project could give fishing rights to a private company.
The other would place floating solar panels in part of the reservoir.
The fishermen say many families depend on fishing for their income.
They also worry that solar panels could make boating and bird-watching harder.
Hundreds of people, including many women, stood in the reservoir for more than two hours.
Officials later promised to meet the protesters within 15 days.
The protest ended after that assurance.
Officials said no final decisions had been made about either project.
Hundreds of fishermen from Pune, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar districts held a water-immersion protest at Palasdev in Indapur taluka.
They demanded cancellation of a proposed private fishing contract and a floating solar project at Ujani Dam.
Protesters said fishing supports more than 30,000 people, including workers in logistics and marketing.
They warned the solar project could reduce fishing areas, affect incomes, and harm bird-watching tourism.
Officials said both proposals were at preliminary stages and promised an administrative meeting within 15 days.
- Who
- Hundreds of fishermen from Pune, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar districts, along with local residents and protest leaders.
- What
- They staged a Jal Samadhi protest demanding cancellation of a proposed private fishing contract and a floating solar project at Ujani Dam.
- Where
- At Palasdev village in Indapur taluka, in the Ujani reservoir’s catchment area.
- When
- Monday; officials promised a follow-up meeting within 15 days.
- Why
- The fishermen said the proposals could threaten fishing-based livelihoods, restrict fishing zones, reduce catches, and affect local tourism.
Fishermen and Local Residents
Dam Officials
Fishing rights
Fishermen and Local Residents
The fishing community wants the proposed private contract cancelled, saying local communities depend on fishing for their livelihoods.
Dam Officials
Officials said an Expression of Interest had been issued, but it was still awaiting approval and no entity had been chosen.
Floating solar project
Fishermen and Local Residents
Protesters said the project could restrict fishing zones, reduce catches, cause income loss or displacement, and make boating and bird-watching tourism more difficult.
Dam Officials
Officials said the solar proposal was still in its initial stages and that further decisions would be taken after considering the objections.
Next action
Fishermen and Local Residents
Community representatives warned that protests could resume if their demands were not addressed at the upcoming meeting.
Dam Officials
Dam management officials promised an administrative meeting within 15 days to examine the demands.
Key facts
- Protest location
- Palasdev village, Indapur taluka, Pune district
- Reservoir
- Ujani Dam reservoir
- Main demands
- Cancel the proposed private fishing contract and floating solar project
- Estimated dependence
- More than 30,000 people across Pune, Solapur, and Ahilyanagar districts depend on fishing in the reservoir, including related sectors
- Protest action
- Fishermen stood in the reservoir for more than two hours during the Jal Samadhi protest
- Fishing proposal status
- An Expression of Interest was issued for concept proposals on fisheries and aquaculture activities, but no entity had been selected
- Solar proposal status
- An MoU was signed with the Industries Department, but the floating solar proposal remained at an initial stage
- Next step
- Officials said a meeting with the administration would be held within 15 days
Quotes
Nandkumar Nagare
Chairperson of the Maharashtra Rajya Machhimar Sangharsh Kruti Samiti
“An MoU had been signed with the Industries Department to offer the specified area of the reservoir for a floating solar project, and this proposal, too, was in its initial stages. Considering the objections, a meeting would be held within the next 15 days, and further decisions would be taken.”
indianexpress.com
“Thousands of people lost their agricultural land during the Ujani dam construction and got displaced. Following this, a majority of these farmers, even the tribals, came to rely entirely on fishing as their livelihood.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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