Friday, 13 June 2025

On the sands of Tonka

On the sands of Tonka waves of Arabian Sea kiss the shore...



On the sands of Tonka hundreds of fishers thrive to prosperity...


On the sands of Tonka Olive Ridley nests and hatchlings...


On the sands of Tonka lies fisheries livihood to people of Kasargod, Honnavar...


On the sands of Tonka plays out India's worst legal spectrum exemplified through Chennai NGT Judgement of 10 June 2025: Appeal No.07 of 2025 (SZ) & I.A. No.39 of 2025 (SZ) with Appeal No.15 of 2025 (SZ)...


On the sands of Tonka beauty behind measure sea birds fishing delight...


On the sands of Tonka eyes focused of predators...


On the sands of Tonka Sharavati and and Badangani rivers opens their mouth...


On the sands of Tonka fishers strive to defend the shore past dozen years from 2013...


On the sands of Tonka fishers battled against constructing road on the beach...


On the sands of Tonka fishers challenged heavy Port-State nexus to run over them alive... 


On the sands of Tonka railway tracks plans in offing yet claimed shelved for public pleasing...


On the sands of Tonka fishers houses are marked 'X' for erasing on 25 February 2025...


On the sands of Tonka Police on behalf of Honnavar Port Private Limited (HPPL) unleashed terror on fishers on 25 February 2025...


On the sands of Tonka several fishers were arrested and then imprisoned in Dharwad 2025 under instructions from Karwar Deputy Commisioner...


On the sands of Tonka are preying eyes of colanizers to impose Port for coal and iron ore packaged as "regional development" ruining Fisheries.


On the sands of Tonka is unbelievable accusation in NGT 10 June 2025 Judgement Para 47 "In fact, the Learned Counsel for the 2nd respondent would state that in order to oppose the project coming up certain miscreants have planted turtle eggs in the beaches of the Kasargod." And Judges believed instead of reprimanding the leanered counsel!


On the sands of Tonka we ruminate NGT verdict that voice of Public is not required to be heard by holding "Public Hearing" while grating Environmental Clearance...


On the sands of Tonka we learned how terrified HPPL is of Public Voices; we shall multiply our voices further!


On the sands of Tonka, Kasargod is first beach in the world therefore for plantation of turtle eggs!


On the sands of Tonka Rajesh Tandel and his team kept vigil to protect Olive Ridley turtle nesting and NGT Judgement refers to them as "certain miscreants"! 


On the sands of Tonka peaked battle royal on 25 February 2025 fishers famous for dry fish got into Arabian Sea waters to say no to Port on the beach...


On the sands of Tonka Uttar Kannada police unleashed terror on 25 Febrary 2025 against local fishers and tagged them criminals with dozen sections from BNS, Indian criminal law.


On the sands of Tonka people 45 people including 07 women booked arrested from and 24 imprisoned for 24 days in Dharwad Jail without bail on 25 February 2025


On the sands of Tonka young 18 years old girl Apeksha Tandel provoked crisis in the administration when she addressed press conference rebuking police repression in her village on 25 February 2025...


On the sands of Tonka Police unleashed selective violence against young man Raju Tandel as a reward for his Lokayukta litigations exposing scams of Port authorities.


On the sands of Tonka flourished dry fishing livelihoods till Port captured the coast few years ago...


On the sands of Tonka are found footprints of brave locals gushing forth to uphold the flag of freedom...


On the sands of Tonka lies the call to us to play our role to defend fisher people, to defend serene coast, uphold fishers right to water, and lot more...


On the sands of Tonka lies an invitation to imagine and indulge, play our cards to safeguard the beach worthy still to build castles in the sand...


On the sands of Tonka there is a calling to intellectuals, writers, poets, academics, journalists, cartoonists, creative, and all those who love defend freedom to join shoulder-to-shoulder people of Kasargod and raise the uprising just the way there is world wide uprising in defence of Palestine fishers and other people...


On the sands of Tonka there are CCTV survellance cameras installed and electricity poles planted, road constructed and Artificial Lighting at Night (ALAN) in place, all done to push push back turtles and the fishers when 24 village men were kept in Dharwad Jail for 24 days...


On the sands of Tonka there is travesty of Justice in all forms: Around 1000 Police force of Uttara Kannada administer violence without name plates on their chests but with masks on their faces, NGT Chennai delivers Judgement without Justice.


On the sands of Tonka there is fading memory of the two people who pronounced 10 June 2025 National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chennai as sample of what could be worst imaginable environmental jurisprudence: Smt. Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, JM and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, EM


On the sands of Tonka there is tragedy of commons witnessed as corporates and private interests - hidden faces behind Honnavar Port Private - Limited decimates India's Environmental Jurisprudence.


On the sands of Tonka there is a lazy emerging resurgence of might with waves of the sea as its mighty strength; let's cheer as it builds up...


On the sands of Tonka there are whispers "so what if MOEF&CC and NGT and HPPL doesn't care to listen to the voice of the coast? We will still speak up and speak up with all our might, might of the Arabian Sea waves, might of gushing waters of Sharavathi River and might of our ancestors!"


On the sands of Tonka we realize we now need to unleash networks of mass collaboration to surmount the challenge! 


Sebastian Rodrigues

Monday, 9 June 2025

Harrasment to Fishers at Campal beach

 09/06/2025


To,


The Director,

Department of Tourism,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa


Subject: Your letter dated May 26, 2025 inviting for meeting on June 03, 2025


Sir,


We received your letter reference no.7/8(361) Complain and Griviences/2025/1164 dated 26/05/2025 with subject of Issue raised by All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union about Harrasment and Loss of Access for Fishers at campal Beach, Panjim. Letter invited us for the meeting to be held on June 03, 2025 at your office on 2nd floor, Paryatan Bhavan, Patto, Panaji, Goa.


We were not able to participate in the above meeting as this letter signed by Deputy Director of Tourism on behalf of Department of Tourism and served on us through Indian Post reached us one day after late on June 04, 2025.


We do not understand if this was done deliberately from your office or that it was due to inefficient functioning of the Indian Post. For whatever may be the truth we got excluded from the meeting and we are very upset about it.


You are kindly requested to call meeting afresh with invitation to us well on advance.


Awaiting your initiative.


Thanking you.


Yours sincerely,




Shaila D'mello

President





Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Goa Fisheries Department needs full-time Director!

09/06/2025


To,


Hon'ble Chief Minister,

Government of Goa

Porvorim, Goa


Subject: Call for appointment of full-time Director of Fisheries


Respected Sir,


We are experiencing tremendous hardships over the past some months. Simple files of individual fishers are witnessing delays of around 04 to 05 months. 


We are given to understand that this delay is due to additional responsibilities and charges given to the current Director of Fisheries Ms. B. Yashaswini IAS.


Matters have worsened from May 04, 2025 when Fisheries Director was given additional charge as Collector of North Goa District after Sirgaon stampede.


We therefore request you to ensure that Directorate of Fisheries in Panjim gets full-time Director who is competent and can communicate fluently with fishers in Konkani.


Kindly treat this letter as urgent and act on priority. 


Thanking you.


Yours sincerely, 





Shaila D'mello

President





Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Call for appointment of full-time Director of Fisheries

 09/06/2025


To,


Hon'ble Chief Minister,

Government of Goa

Porvorim, Goa


Subject: Call for appointment of full-time Director of Fisheries


Respected Sir,


We are experiencing tremendous hardships over the past some months. Simple files of individual fishers are witnessing delays of around 04 to 05 months. 


We are given to understand that this delay is due to additional responsibilities and charges given to the current Director of Fisheries Ms. B. Yashaswini IAS.


Matters have worsened from May 04, 2025 when Fisheries Director was given additional charge as Collector of North Goa District after Sirgaon stampede.


We therefore request you to ensure that Directorate of Fisheries in Panjim gets full-time Director who is competent and can comminicate fluently with fishers in Konkani.


Kindly treat this letter as urgent and act on priority. 


Thanking you.


Yours sincerely, 





Shaila D'mello

President, AGSSRFU





Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary, AGSSRFU

Friday, 6 June 2025

DPR for Goa rivers dredging

These are detail project reports (DPR) for rivers in India specially the links https://iwai.nic.in/waterways/dpr-report. These rivers are studied for the purpose of dredging. 


Fishing will be completely destroyed if dredging activities are carried on in rivers. 


In Goa too Rivers such as Chapora, Mapusa, Mandovi, Cumbarjua, Zuari features amongst those whose DPR is completed by Inland Waterways Authority of India.


Fishing communities will loose their livelihoods completely if these projects are realized.


Now is the time to reach out to fishing communities and organise into Unions.

Fire extinguisher in fishing canoes and insurance of the fishing crew

05/06/2025


To,


The Director, 

Directorate of Fisheries,

Government of Goa 

Panjim, Goa


Subject: Follow up to our visit to your office on 29.05.2025 to discuss issues of fire extinguisher in fishing canoes and insurance of the fishing crew etc...Regarding


Madam,


Delegation from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) visited your office on 29.05.2025 to discuss and clarify the issues of mandatory installation of fire extinguisher in fishing canoes and mandatory insurance of the fishing crew and fishing vessel. 


We met officials of the Fisheries department that includes Deputy Director Dr. Smitha Majumdar, Superitendent of Fisheries Varsha Naik and Fisheries Officer Aniya Naik.


In this context we submit as under:


1. On Mandatory fire extinguisher: queries were raised on the legal basis of the decision. It was informed by Fisheries Officer that legal basis is Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Rules, 1990. Department officials did not share gazetted copy of this law with us nor produced any notification from the Direction of Fisheries indication that 1990 central government legislation is going to be enforced against fishing canoes in Goa in 2025, after the gap of 35 years. It was concluded that due to these reasons fire extinguisher cannot be made mandatory for any fishing canoes in Goa.


2. On Crew insurance: it was noted that officials from the Fisheries department are insisting on fishermen getting the private insurance for fishing canoes crew. On this count it was pointed out during the meeting that as per Rule 3 (3)(ii)(e) of the Goa Marine Fishing Regulation (sixth ammendment) Rules 2021 the fishing vessel shall posses "a certificate of insurance coverage of its members and the fishing vessel". Thus the rule does not specify that it needs only private insurance coverage. There are two government schemes in this context that we wish to draw your attention to:


1. Group accidental insurance scheme


2. Corpus Fund Scheme


We therefore urge you that insurance coverage of fishing vessel crew be enforced through the above two schemes without resorting to private insurance companies. 


Kindly take this on priority attention and ensure that fishers are not harassment and troubled in this regard.


Thanking you.


Yours Truly,




Shaila D'mello

President





Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary


Copy to Minister of Fisheries, Government of Goa

Thursday, 5 June 2025

fire extinguisher in fishing canoes and insurance of the fishing crew

05/06/2025


To,


The Director, 

Directorate of Fisheries,

Government of Goa 

Panjim, Goa


Subject: Follow up to our visit to your office on 29.05.2025 to discuss issues of fire extinguisher in fishing canoes and insurance of the fishing crew etc...Regarding


Madam,


Delegation from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) visited your office on 29.05.2025 to discuss and clarify the issues of mandatory installation of fire extinguisher in fishing canoes and mandatory insurance of the fishing crew and fishing vessel. 


We met officials of the Fisheries department that includes Deputy Director Dr. Smitha Majumdar, Superitendent of Fisheries Varsha Naik and Fisheries Officer Aniya Naik.


In this context we submit as under:


1. On Mandatory fire extinguisher: queries were raised on the legal basis of the decision. It was informed by Fisheries Officer that legal basis is Merchant Shipping (Fire Appliances) Rules, 1990. Department officials did not share gazetted copy of this law with us nor produced any notification from the Direction of Fisheries indication that 1990 central government legislation is going to be enforced against fishing canoes in Goa in 2025, after the gap of 35 years. It was concluded that due to these reasons fire extinguisher cannot be made mandatory for any fishing canoes in Goa.


2. On Crew insurance: it was noted that officials from the Fisheries department are insisting on fishermen getting the private insurance for fishing canoes crew. On this count it was pointed out during the meeting that as per Rule 3 (3)(ii)(e) of the Goa Marine Fishing Regulation (sixth ammendment) Rules 2021 the fishing vessel shall posses "a certificate of insurance coverage of its members and the fishing vessel". Thus the rule does not specify that it needs only private insurance coverage. There are two government schemes in this context that we wish to draw your attention to:


1. Group accidental insurance scheme


2. Corpus Fund Scheme


We therefore urge you that insurance coverage of fishing vessel crew be enforced through the above two schemes without resorting to private insurance companies. 


Kindly take this on priority attention and ensure that fishers are not harassment and troubled in this regard.


Thanking you.


Yours Truly,




Shaila D'mello

President





Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Call to revoke permissions to navigate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim River from June 01 to August 31

03/06/2025


To,


Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa


Subject: Call to revoke permissions to navigate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim River from June 01 to August 31 


Sir,


This is to follow-up of  letter from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) dated 28/05/2025 inwarded to your office on the same date with subject "call to cease all water sports/tourism canoes operations in Sinquerim river from June 01 to August 31".


Subsequently we got a phone call from your office to remain present for the personal hearing on 30/05/2025 at 15.00 hours. In obedience to the telephonic message delegation from AGSSRFU was present at the personal hearing held at the office Captain of Ports.


Inspite of personal hearing and your assurance to protect fishing interests in Sinquerim river water sports/tourism canoes with PNJ registration began their operations on 01 June 2025 thereby disrupting fish spawning season and fishing based livelihoods that Sinquerim river historically supported local fishing communities in Sinquerim, Candolim  Nerul etc till these canoes began disrupting stable self-sustaining local Fisheries three years ago.


We have on record verified information that your office has permitted these canoes to deploy 40 HP outboard motors mandatory. Few canoes operate with 40 HP outboard motors few with deceptive stickers of these motors are of 09 HP capacity. 


At the said personal hearing with Captain of Ports when this issues was brought up by one of the fisher from Candolim who is also member of AGSSRFU you counter questioned him rudely "Are you questing my decision"? AGSSRFU holds that bad decision needs to be questioned and you have no basis to behave rudely. Questioning is important aspect of healthy democratic practices and kindly introspect your conduct and behaviour towards fishing communities. 


Your decision to outsource dispute resolution to Olencio Simoes is not respected as Water Sports/Tourim canoes has resumed their highly objectionable disruptive activities in Sinquerim river from June 01, 2025 morning itself to the detriment of the Fisheries based livelihoods of the local fishermen and their families. 


We wish to bring to your attention the text of section 8 of gazette (extraordinary 3) notification no. B 14022/WS/Special Permissions/COP dated 7th July 2023 as follow:


"Captain of Ports reserves the right to grant or deny the NOC's in case of congestion, local fishermen problems, safety of navigation and may be revoked without assigning any reasons thereof".


You are therefore requested to invoke above section 8 of Gazette (extraordinary 3) notification no. B 14022/WS/Special Permissions/COP dated 7th July 2023 and revoke all the Permissions to operate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim river for the months of June to August with immidiate effect on the ground of local fishermen facing problems due to water sports/tourim canoes navigating in Sinquerim river for the months of June to August.


Please note that your office will be held accountable and responsible for all the negative consequences flowing out of your decision to support water sports/tourism canoes against fishing based livelihoods so far.


We expect you to act to revoke the said permisions swiftly without any further delay and avoid situations may lead to unpredictable scenarios.


We communicate this to you with instructions from our Union members located in Sinquerim-Candolim-Nerul coastal belt received and dicussed at the AGSSRFU executive meeting held on 01/06/2025.


Thanking you.


Yours Truly,




Shaila D'mello

President




Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary


Copy to


1. Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa


2. Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

 

3. President, Kandollchea Kharveancho Ekvott, 

937, Camotim Vaddo,

Candolim, Bardez, Goa


4. The President,

Traditional Fishermen's Association of North Goa

1611/46, Voilo Vaddo, Orda, Candolim, Bardez, Goa

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

Sarthak Ahuja and his obsession with tagging Goa's tourist taxi operators as mafia

 https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1ZeiYMaC3j/


Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly condemns Sarthak Ahuja for using defamatory language against taxi operators in Goa. He has posted objectionable video on Facebook on the above links referring Goa's Taxi Unions as mafia. He has repeated the same three times in the same video reflecting acute sense of frustration with Goans.

Mafia is an Acronym of set of activities put together when operated without sanction and approval of law. Taxis in Goa are not operating in with full sanction of law.

Oxford dictionary defines the word mafia as "a secret international organization of criminals active especially in Italy and the US". It also has another meaning as "a closely knit group of trusted associates who use ruthless and criminal methods to get advantages for themselves". This definition also does not apply to Goa's taxi operators. And those who want to know the actual Italian origin of mafia and its full form may consult this video:

https://youtu.be/jYZksdzVxic

So what's really is the obsession that drives so many online Facebook, instagram characters to refer Goa's taxis operators as "mafia"? Why this deliberate tag is sought to be imprinted as the image of Goa's taxi operators? No one from Goa has refered and tagged any of the aggregators in India as Cartels. So why this obsessions amongst Ahujas of India in the name of providing right facilities to tourists in Goa?

Can people of Goa allow themselves to be taken hostage by tourism? Tourism was built upon natural and social character of Goa. Real estate had no role in it. Real estate is in fact a intruder into tourism in Goa that needs to be countered.

Goa has seen international tourism right from 1960s and that tourism never took local people hostages as is being sought to be done today.

If Sarthak Ahuja has problem with the way tourism is generating jobs for local people in Goa through taxis he has to came to terms with it rather than propagating supplanting solutions of supporting Guidelines.

It is indeed very strange that this Sarthak Ahuja has appealed to people from all over India write to Goa's Transport Director in addition to those involved in real estate business.

Basically Sarthak advocates dismantling of tourism industry and re-forming it in such a way that people of Goa will be taken hostage of the industry. Economically local people will be shattered and taxi operators are just one section of it. The ripple effect in case of this disaster of guidelines being approved will fall on entire Goan society. Social consequences will be severe too.

The repeated use of the word "mafia" on taxi oprerators is inherently violent in the nature of the narrative. It is actually brainwashing people to be prepared for the actual physical violence to accept, justify and even celebrate in due course of time.

Desmond Morris has explained this phenomena beautifully in his book "Human zoo". He observes that dog is tagged mad repeatedly. After sufficient brainwashing through mind control exercises one day dog is shot dead even though actually dog was never mad. People then celebrate that mad dog is dead!

Narrative has a power and people like Sathak Ahuja use them effectively against people of Goa.

At his Facebook video posting option to post comments is closed. One cannot have any response there. His point of view is drilled down without any change of dialogue.

Video narrative ends with nationalistic narrative of "Jai Hind". No nationalistic slogans should be allowed perpetuate violence on any section of Goa including taxi operators. We counter this narrative with Jai Mulnivasi!

Bharat Mukti Morcha stands in support and Solidarity with people running their taxis business in Goa and their Associations and Unions.

Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon Goa Government to withraw its decision to enforce Guidelines and protect livelihoods of taxi operators in Goa.

Jai Mulnivasi!




Tuesday, 3 June 2025

Call to revoke permissions to navigate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim River from June 01 to August 31

03/06/2025


To,


Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa


Subject: Call to revoke permissions to navigate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim River from June 01 to August 31 


Sir,


This is to follow-up of letter from All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union (AGSSRFU) dated 28/05/2025 inwarded to your office on the same date with subject "call to cease all water sports/tourism canoes operations in Sinquerim river from June 01 to August 31".


Subsequently we got a phone call from your office to remain present for the personal hearing on 30/05/2025 at 15.00 hours. In obedience to the telephonic message delegation from AGSSRFU was present at the personal hearing held at the office Captain of Ports.


Inspite of personal hearing and your assurance to protect fishing interests in Sinquerim river water sports/tourism canoes with PNJ registration began their operations on 01 June 2025 thereby disrupting fish spawning season and fishing based livelihoods that Sinquerim river historically supported local fishing communities in Sinquerim, Candolim Nerul etc till these canoes began disrupting stable self-sustaining local Fisheries three years ago.


We have on record verified information that your office has permitted these canoes to deploy 40 HP outboard motors mandatory. Few canoes operate with 40 HP outboard motors few with deceptive stickers of these motors are of 09 HP capacity. 


At the said personal hearing with Captain of Ports when this issues was brought up by one of the fisher from Candolim who is also member of AGSSRFU you counter questioned him rudely "Are you questing my decision"? AGSSRFU holds that bad decision needs to be questioned and you have no basis to behave rudely. Questioning is important aspect of healthy democratic practices and kindly introspect your conduct and behaviour towards fishing communities. 


Your decision to outsource dispute resolution to Olencio Simoes is not respected as Water Sports/Tourim canoes has resumed their highly objectionable disruptive activities in Sinquerim river from June 01, 2025 morning itself to the detriment of the Fisheries based livelihoods of the local fishermen and their families. 


We wish to bring to your attention the text of section 8 of gazette (extraordinary 3) notification no. B 14022/WS/Special Permissions/COP dated 7th July 2023 as follow:


"Captain of Ports reserves the right to grant or deny the NOC's in case of congestion, local fishermen problems, safety of navigation and may be revoked without assigning any reasons thereof".


You are therefore requested to invoke above section 8 of Gazette (extraordinary 3) notification no. B 14022/WS/Special Permissions/COP dated 7th July 2023 and revoke all the Permissions to operate water sports/tourism canoes in Sinquerim river for the months of June to August with immidiate effect on the ground of local fishermen facing problems due to water sports/tourim canoes navigating in Sinquerim river for the months of June to August.


Please note that your office will be held accountable and responsible for all the negative consequences flowing out of your decision to support water sports/tourism canoes against fishing based livelihoods so far.


We expect you to act to revoke the said permisions swiftly without any further delay and avoid situations may lead to unpredictable scenarios.


We communicate this to you with instructions from our Union members located in Sinquerim-Candolim-Nerul coastal belt received and dicussed at the AGSSRFU executive meeting held on 01/06/2025.


Thanking you.


Yours Truly,




Shaila D'mello

President




Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary


Copy to


1. Director of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Panaji, Goa


2. Director of Tourism, 

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

 

3. President, Kandollchea Kharveancho Ekvott, 

937, Camotim Vaddo,

Candolim, Bardez, Goa


4. The President,

Traditional Fishermen's Association of North Goa

1611/46, Voilo Vaddo, Orda, Candolim, Bardez, Goa

Agacaim turns toxic with clandestine release of hazardous chemicals


 









Agacaim village has turned toxic at sevaral sites with clandestine discharge of hazardous chemicals in traditional rainwater run-off paths. 


Eversimce its started raining past few weeks black fluids mixed with the toxic substances and hazardous chemicals turning water itself black.


Several paddy fields due for cultivation has turned black in mourning mode. Traditional run-off paths resembles black dirty smelly gutters leading into Panvel river. Agacaim run-off this toxic water into Zuari river causing huge threat to marine ecosystems too.


Ground investigations indicate that toxic substance were released in the open somewhere near Agacaim-Pilar border threatening and poisoning large portion of Agacaim village and Zuari river.


There are huge implications of thus criminal act, one of them being destruction of agriculture, fisheries, collapse of natural ecosystems, and collapse of Public Health.


All the agencies of the State needs to act systematically and in co-ordination to track down as to who has caused this ecocide and expose those involved. All the concerned groups are also required to work in co-ordination to assist in restoration of damaged land and purify polluted waters.