East Indian Crab Curry Recipe

"It's Crap to catch a CRAB!"

"Crabs (Chimbori or khekda in local koli dialect) have gradually

reduced in their size, since our childhood till today!" Says a 65 years

old Fishermen from Versova koliwada, Shri. Krishna Sathi.

Since his childhood Krishna has been going alongwith his father in a small

rowing boat to catch crabs in the marshy lands across Malad-Versova creek. The

scenario during his childhood & youth was totally different than what it is

today about the crabs catch.

Earlier, it took them hardly half an hour to get the catch with literally 2

to 3 whole wooden buckets of giant size crabs each weighing approx 1.5 kg to 2

kgs!

But today blaming sea water pollution, plastics, thermocols, acidification

of creek and presence of radioactive elements, Krishna says the creek has

turned into a lifeless water. This being one of the basic reasons of reduction

in the size of crabs.

Now a days, even after long hour waits during crab fishing, hardly a half of

the wooden bucket gets filled with crabs of very small sizes. It's ridiculous

say Fishermen. This small wooden bucket filled of small crabs would not weigh 1

kg as compared to one single giant crab of 1.5 kg they used to catch earlier!

Talking about in financial terms, today 1.5kg crab gives a yield of nearly

Rs. 1100/- whereas the half filled bucket of small crabs would give an yield

hardly about Rs. 400/-

The whole world would be celebrating "Environment Day" today,

whereas this fisherfolks are striving hard for livelihood by fighting every day

against this environment pollution effects!

When will the Administration & Environment Ministry wake up for

rehabilitation of Malad-Versova creek once popularly known as "Pala khadi

or Dhanlaxmi".

 Posted By : Joanna  D'souza