Mumbai: Bombay HC has appointed Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to prepare a detailed report on the extent of damage and loss caused to fisherfolk due to the construction of the six-lane third Thane creek bridge (TCB III) and to recommend compensation payable to them.Taking note of a TISS report on compensation for fisherfolk affected by the coastal road project, a bench of Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla said on May 2, “A similar effort should be made by TISS in the present case.” HC was told TCB III is largely complete, a portion is open to vehicular traffic, and it will be fully operational in the coming weeks.The petition was filed in 2021 by Mariyayi Macchimaar Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit, a society of fisherfolk from koliwadas such as Vashigaon, Juhugaon, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli and Diva, who feared their livelihood would be affected. Miffed that there was no progress by a committee it set up to determine compensation and as MSRDC-appointed Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) sought a year’s time to determine compensation, HC in Feb 2022 directed MSRDC to deposit Rs 10 crore towards ad hoc interim compensation to over 900-odd members.In March 2022, HC directed the distribution of Rs 1 lakh per family.The petitioner’s advocate, Zaman Ali, said while CMFRI’s final report concluded that there is some impact on fishing activities, it doesn’t indicate the quantum and damage to project-affected fisherfolk. He urged that TISS, an institute with the requisite knowledge and expertise, be appointed to carry out this exercise. Senior advocate Milind Sathe, for MSRDC, opposed it, saying there was no infirmity in CMFRI’s report.In the absence of damage caused, no further compensation is required to be paid, he added. Amicus curiae senior advocate Sharan Jagtiani supported the petitioner. He referred to TISS’s Aug 2023 report on compensation for fisherfolk hit by the coastal road.HC said, “From a reading of earlier orders, there has been a clear determination that TCB III will have an impact on the livelihood of project affected fishermen”. Also, despite its report concluding to some extent that there is temporary and permanent damage caused to the fisherfolk’s customary right to fish, “CMFRI has been unable to quantify the extent of loss and consequent compensation payable” to them, it said.HC said the TISS study was undertaken “after construction of the coastal road was well underway, and despite this, TISS was able to deploy a methodology by which it could reasonably assess damage and compensation”. TISS has to submit the report by Nov 21.