The Bombay high court on Monday directed the Thane collector to file a report stating whether it would be possible to give the 433 fisherfolk families displaced due to the Tarapur atomic power plant project a hectare of land each to cultivate. A division bench of Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice Nishita Mhatre was hearing a clutch of petitions filed by villagers alleging that they had not been rehabilitated properly. Some fishermen from New Pophran village were to be given land near the coastal Unbhat village to store their fishing equipment. Krishna Kore, advocate for Unbhat villagers, and M P Ram Naik, who is espousing the case of the Pophran fishermen, told the court that the proposal was not feasible as it may lead to serious disputes between residents of the two villages. They said that a meeting washeldon October 15to address this issue. “Both sides felt that there would be continuous disputes,” said Naik. He suggested that instead, the 433 families be given a hectare of land each to cultivate as an alternative livelihood. The judges said that the collector of the district would first have to hold a meeting to ascertain whether the villagers would agree to such a proposal. The collector would also have to find out whether there is sufficient land available near New Pophran village or anywhere in Palghar tehsil. “Then it will be for the state government to decide the issue,” said Justice Marlapalle. The judges have directed the collector to file a report within three weeks.