Date: 16th December 2017
To,
The
Captain of Ports,
Government
of Goa,
Panjim,
Goa
Subject: Serious Objections to signing
any Memorandum of Understanding between Inland Waterways Authority of India
(IWAI), Government of Goa and Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) on development of 6
rivers in Goa declared fraudulently as National Waterways.
Sir,
Thank
you for inviting Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM), Goa State for the Presentation on
above subject held at Institute Menezes Braganza, Main Hall, Panjim on 11th
December 2017. Our President Maggie Silveira participated and many of us were
prevented from entering the venue by tight police security. We lodge our
protest for the preventing participation of our several office bearers.
As
you are well aware Bharat Mukti Morcha has already filed objections to your
office on the above mentioned subject. However after our President Maggie
Silveira participated in presentation we wish to re-iterate our objections with
additional reasons as under:
1. Threats to Fishing: We
have studied the draft of MoU given to Mr. Churchill Alemao, Benaulim MLA by
Manohar Parrikar, CM of Goa publicly at the above mentioned venue of MoU
Presentation on above subject and believe that it is designed to the detriment
of fishing activities in all the six rivers in Goa. We observed that even Inland
Waterways has such provisions hostile to fishing as its Article 3 (XI) of draft
MoU that states “Ensure unrestricted development and utilization of National
Waterways by regulating the existing fishing activities carried through stake
net fishing, barrier net, River gill, river cages and fishing by any registered
gear. Views of local fishermen area shall however be taken into consideration
before finalization of a site for development by COP and IWAI”. We are not
satisfied with explanation of Govind Jaiswal, IAS who stated that Fishing rules
of 1981 are much more dangerous to fishing activities than this article. BMM
call upon Fisheries Minister Vinoda Paliencar as well as to move amendment to
1981 fisheries rules and make rivers of Goa safe for fishing activities by
deleting provisions hostile to fishing with help of Govind Jaiswal, IAS who is
Secretary Fisheries and Ports. We object Goa fishing rules of 1981 to be used
to justify this draconian provision. In addition, Fishing cannot be localized
as even though fishermen are locals, fish in rivers is not as rivers are
connected to Arabian Sea, and so are the consumers of fish are beyond locality.
We object to the plans to sign this MoU.
2.
Subversion
of Democracy: National Waterways Act 2016 was passed unanimously in the
Indian Parliament in March 2016 without consulting people of Goa. Goa’s MPs
kept silent in Parliament according to eye witness account given by Goa CM
Manohar Parrikar who was present in the Parliament in his capacity as India’s
Defence Minister. The representative democracy has proved to be the colossal
failure the way things have turned out on Goa’s six rivers declared as National
Waterways as Political Parties are outside RTI jurisdictions and we do not know
which vested interests funded ruling and opposition parties to pass this law
unanimously without consulting people of Goa. BMM again objects to the
inclusion of Goa’s rivers in the Schedule of National Waterways Act 2016. BMM
rejects Goa CM’s comments that he can do nothing about it to reverse the
situation. Here are things that BMM advises CM Manohar Parrikar to do
immediately:
a. Write
to the Prime Minister of India to delete Goa’s six rivers from the Schedule of
National Waterways Act 2016.
b. Write
to Goa MPs in Parliament as all three of them belong to CM’s Political Party
BJP to do all that is necessary to get Goa’s rivers deleted from the Schedule
of National Waterways Act 2016.
c. Pass
legislation in Goa Legislative Assembly to exclude Goa’s six rivers form
Schedule of the National Waterways Act 2016.
3.
Land
Grab: With all the Goa’s
precious land adjacent to six rivers going to the Indian Shipping Ministry that
control Inland Waterways Authority of India has automatically is under
jurisdiction of Union Government besides declared portions of six rivers
themselves.
4.
“Like
Goa’s Liberation”: This is a statement Manohar Parrikar made to describe the
situation Goa after inclusion of six rivers as National Waterways in 2016. BMM
notes that Goa Liberation and India’s military action in Goa on December 17,
2017 was against European county of Portugal. Indian Government headed by Jawaharlal
Nehru believed that Goa could be liberated from Portugal by such action. How
does comparison fits here? From whom does Indian Government liberated Goa
through National Waterways Act 2016? From Fishermen? From dwellers on coast
banks of rivers? BMM want an answer from you on these questions.
5.
Liberation
as Tragedy: What Goa CM has referred as Goa Liberation has in fact been
great trigger to loose control over land in various insidious ways. Here we
share a link to you on how people living in plains and mountains, Goa’s
Scheduled Tribe People were cheated of their land and their liberation is yet
to begin as bondage is a reality: http://theothermedia.in/downloadables/SAIP_Reports/SAIP_Mining_Series_1_Goa.pdf.
And now in liberated Goa our rivers have been arbitrarily without any
consultation has been transferred for control by Indian Shipping Ministry. This
is completely ridiculous and we totally oppose inclusion of Goa’s six rivers in
the Schedule of National Waterways Act 2016.
6.
Liberation
or Invasion of Goa? This is question is not settled as yet. What Manohar Parrikar
called Liberation of Goa is referred to as Goa Invasion by UN Security council
in its 988th meeting held on 18th December 1961 in New
York from 8.45 pm onwards. Here is online link for your reference: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/PV.988. According
to Goa CM National Waterways Act 2016 is like this event then this could also
be termed as Goa’s second invasion.
7.
Goa
Rivers fiasco is due to political failure of Indian representative democracry
– the Legislature. It has to be corrected by Legislative Action. It cannot have
administrative solution. Hence Secretary - Ports, Govind Jaiswal, IAS who did
power point presentation at December 11, 2017 meeting under reference has no
role in solving this issue.
8.
Responsibility
of Captain of Ports: Major responsibility to get Goa’s rivers out of Schedule of
National Waterways Act 2016 is of Captain of Ports. From the records posted at
website of Inland Waterways Authority of India it is clear evidence that
Government of India consulted Captain of Ports along with Mormugao Port Trust
(MPT), Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Goa Barge Owners
Association as early as January 21, 2010 and reported in press next day. Here
is the link for your reference: http://iwai.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=145.
Now it is your office duty to convey the message of vast protesting people of
Goa on opposition in Goa to the Indian Shipping Ministry.
9.
After
mining tragedy we commit river tragedy? There is already huge
environmental damage mining has inflicted on Goa. Mining silt has washed into
Goa’s rivers in such a large quantity that few islands have been formed and
forest department has planted trees on them especially in Mandovi river. There
are studies by scientists explaining in detail as o how mining has damaged Goa
and also its various river tributaries. Its clear from the fact that IWAI has
approached National Appraisal Committee as recorded in minutes of October
25-26, 2016 on behalf of 228 barges to carry on dredging of Mandovi. Here are
the extracts of minutes for your reference: http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2017/08/228-mining-barges-behind-tormenting-of.html. So here we are in a situation where mining has
ruined its land – plains and forests, paddy fields and water bodies, and now
out on full fledged prowl to swallow Goa’s rivers. Enough is enough!
10. Mining as a major polluting industry
of Goa and find recorded in the first meeting of Goa State Pollution
Control Board (GSCPB) on October 05, 1988. Role of mining barges in polluting
Goa’s inland waterways too is very well noted. In fact minutes calls for
education of the masses on the aspect of prevention of pollution. Here is
online link to these minutes for your reference http://goaspcb.gov.in/Media/Default/Minutes%20of%20Board%20Meeting/1minutes.pdf.
11. Mining
has been historical enemy of Goa and continues to be so till date. Mining
enmity is not restricted to assault on Goa’s ecology from its inception in
early 1940 but extends in political sphere too. T.B.Cunha, the Father of Goan
Nationalism in his article in Journal titled “Free Goa” wrote on July 25th
1958 as to how mining companies has been supporting Portugal Colonial rule to
thrive in Goa. Here is his complete article online links: http://mandgoa.blogspot.in/2008/04/t-b-cunha-on-mining-trade-in-goa.html.
12. Colonial mode of development: Wanagunui
river too was used as “Highway” by white colonizers against the wishes of the
indigenous people of that region – Maoris. They fought for nearly 140 years and
this year 2017 March Crown acknowledged and apologized for the destruction
caused in New Zealand through the Parliamentary legislation. Here is reference
for your reference: http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2017/0007/latest/096be8ed81520106.pdf. Do
you want people of Goa to fight similarly and that long period of time? One
needs to be really sadist to desire so. If that is the intention of Government
of India, Government of Goa to please mining companies, Shipping companies and
other vested interests then we will be left with no option but to fight like
Maoris did in New Zealand over Whanganui River.
13. Delay in decision to
reverse the decision of Indian Government could lead to unpredictable
consequences. People of Goa no longer want to be at the mercy of mining
companies, coal companies, casino companies and Indian Shipping Ministry
dictated terms to Goa’s rivers and people. Your office will be held responsible
for ensuring consequences as your office negotiated with Indian Shipping
Ministry to get them in Schedule of National Waterways Act 2016.
Kindly
share this letter with all the MLAs, Ministers, Chief Minister and others that
you invited for the December 11, 2017 presentation at Menezes Braganza Hall,
Panjim as well as members of public protesting outside the Hall for denying
entry inside for PPT Presentation on above subject. Also share this letter with
Indian Shipping Ministry and IWAI along with MPT, Goa Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, and Goa Barge Owners Association. Make sure that you do not sign any
MoU on Goa’s six rivers.
Thanking
you,
Yours
sincerely,
