Koliwadas Submit Community Draft Regulations To Mayor Ritu Tawde

Representatives of Mumbai's Koliwadas and Gaothans, including fishing communities in Bandra, submitted a community-led draft of Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) to Mayor Ritu Tawde on Friday. The delegation is seeking separate development rules tailored specifically to the city's indigenous settlements.

The draft regulations were presented by the Koliwada Gaonthan Seva Samiti, representing several Koliwada and Gaothan areas across Mumbai City and the suburbs. The group urged civic authorities to establish a distinct regulatory structure, pressing for a separate DCPR or Unified DCPR (UDCPR) framework for these historical settlements.

In addition to submitting the regulatory draft, the Koliwada Gaonthan Seva Samiti raised three long-pending demands regarding the planning and protection of these habitats. The group called for the immediate demarcation of all Koliwadas and Gaothans across Mumbai City and the suburbs.

The samiti also demanded the formal inclusion of expanded Koliwada areas in both the city's Development Plan (DP) and the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP). Representatives emphasized that incorporating expanded boundaries into official plans is essential for indigenous fishing colonies, including those along the Bandra coast overlooking the sea link.