Date:
01/03/2019
To,
The Collector (North Goa),
Panjim, Goa
Subject: Objections to Marinas in Zuari river
Dear Sir/Madam,
It has come to our attention though media reports that Goa
State Pollution Control Board has approached your office to initiate process
for Public Hearing for installing marina in Zuari river off coast of Nauxi
village in Tiswadi.
We write this let you know that we continue to oppose both
the marina projects in Zuari river not only because it will adversely affect
fishing communities engaged in fishing activities but also because of the
undemocratic process of leasing out of River Zuari followed by Marmagoa Port
Trust (MPT). Without consulting fisher people dependent on Zuari river MPT
leased out 2,00,000 square meters of Zuari river bed for two marinas within 3
days (12-14, October, 2010) for 30 years each.
While the two lease deeds took enough precautions to protect
mining barge traffic in Zuari the same precautions are not taken for fishing
activities in Zuari river. In fact lease deeds makes it clear that setting up
of marina will require large scale dredging of river which will surely result
in destruction of Zuari river fisheries.
MPT carried on these lease deeds by virtue of the Central
government notification of May 24, 2000 that asserts Jurisdiction of MPT up to
Cortalim bridge. MPT is controlled by Union Ministry of Shipping. This
notification too was issued without consulting fishing communities connected to
Zuari river.
If process for marina project is initiated by holding public
hearing then it will symbolize Union Shipping Ministry’s commitment to destroy
Zuari river fisheries. Already there is lots of misery spread out to Vasco
residents due to MPT’s handling of Coal resulting in dredging of Arabian Sea as
well as Coal dust pollution. With marina in Zuari this misery will enter Zuari
river and it will destroy fisher community’s livelihoods as well as ecology
resulting in Port-led Poverty.
We also wish to convey to you that Central Government 2019
notification relating to CRZ has already set in unrest amongst fishing
communities in the State of Goa and installation of marinas will only
facilitate further escalation of tension.
The sizable affected people on Zuari river bank are also
Scheduled Tribes whose livelihoods were destroyed due to setting up of various
projects in the past resulting in no benefit to the community. Few of these
projects include Goa University, Goa Medical College, National Institute of
Oceanography, Goa International Centre etc. This development forced these
people to take up fishing. Marina spells doom to the livelihood of these
People. Should one more project of be imposed at Nauxim sacrificing adivasis
for prosperity of few rich Yacht owning tourists and five star hotels like
Hotel Grand Hyatt and Cidade de Goa that are located on Zuari river bank?
Amongst adivasis there is already nation wide unrest is underway due to eviction
threats of those living in forest landscapes. Central Government has failed to
depute lawyers to defend government law protecting Tribal People and Other
Forest Dwellers in India. This has already affected 23 lakh people all over
India. Marinas too are destined to provoke eviction of river bank tribal people
in Nauxim-Cacra villages.
People on Zuari river banks are insecure as river has been
declared as National Waterway 111 as Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
has assertive control over riparian areas. In this context Installation of
Marinas in Zuari has been viewed as frontal attacks on the livelihood of people
particularly dependent upon fishing.
Kindly convey our objection to marinas in Zuari to the State
and Central Government.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Maggie Silveira,
President,
Goa Unit
