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Mumbai fishers and villagers protest against Manori desalination plant

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India · Oct 19, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 19.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Residents and fishers oppose the BMC's Manori desalination plant, citing threats to marine biodiversity, fishing grounds, and livelihoods.
What they want
They demand the cancellation of the desalination project and better consultation with affected coastal communities.
What changed
Oct 19: Protesters alleged that police detained bus drivers and seized keys to prevent them from reaching the protest site in Bandra.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Scrap the Manori desalination plant project
  • Prioritise fixing water leakages over desalination
  • Ensure meaningful consultation with local fishing communities
  • Address concerns regarding marine biodiversity and brine discharge

Organised by: Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, Gorai Villagers Welfare Association, Bombay Catholic Sabha

What authorities say

No official response reported in the sources.

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
2,000
Around 2000 people, including villagers, farmers, fishermen and activists were expected to join the protest according…2

The full story

On October 19, 2026, fishers, coastal villagers, and activists attempted to hold a 'Jan Akrosh Morcha' protest march to the Mumbai Suburban Collector’s office in Bandra to oppose the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposed desalination plant at Manori. Organised by groups including the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti and the Gorai Villagers Welfare Association, participants argued that the project threatens traditional fishing grounds, marine biodiversity, and local livelihoods. They also questioned the project's environmental impact assessments and financial viability, suggesting the BMC should address water leakages instead. According to the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, police intervened to stop the demonstration by detaining bus drivers and seizing vehicle keys. No official response from the authorities regarding the police actions or the project demands was reported in the provided sources.

Timeline

  1. The Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti alleged that police stopped their transport by detaining bus drivers and seizing keys.3

  2. Fishermen and villagers attempted to march to the District Collector’s office in Bandra to protest the desalination project.23

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