Date: 15th December 2014
1
To,
The Governor
Government of Goa
Dona Paula, Goa
|
2
To,
The Chief Minister,
Government of Goa
Secretariat,
Porvorim, Goa
|
3
To,
The Minister of
Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Secretariat,
Porvorim, Goa
|
4
To,
The Chief Secretary,
Government of Goa,
Secretariat,
Porvorim, Goa
|
5
To,
The Secretary
(Fisheries)
Government of Goa,
Secretariat,
Porvorim,
Goa
|
6
To,
The Under Secretary
(Fisheries),
Government of Goa,
Secretariat,
Porvorim,
Goa
|
To,
The Captain of
Ports,
River Navigation
Department
Panjim, Goa
|
8
To,
The Director,
Department of
Tourism,
Panjim, Goa
|
9
To,
The Director,
Department of
Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Panjim, Goa
|
10
To,
The Collector (North
Goa),
Government of Goa
Panjim, Goa
|
11
To,
The Mamlatdar,
Tiswadi Taluka,
Panjim, Goa
|
12
To,
The Director-General
of Police (DGP)
Police Headquarters,
Panjim, Goa
|
13
To,
The Superintendent
of Police (North Goa)
Porvorim, Goa
|
14
To,
Vishnu Surya Wagh
The Member of
Legislative Assembly (MLA)
St. Andre
Constituency,
Goa
|
15
To,
The Parish Priest,
Our Lady of
Bethlehem,
Bambolim
Goa
|
16
To
The Sarpanch,
Village Panchayat of
Curca – Bambolim- Talaulim
Goa
|
17
To,
The Sarpanch,
Village Panchayat of
Siridao
Goa
|
18
To,
The Sarpanch,
Village Panchayat of
Taleigao,
Goa
|
19
To,
The Sarpanch,
Village Panchayat of
Santa Cruz, Goa
|
20
To,
The Parish Priest,
Our Lady of Rosary
Church,
Siridao, Goa
|
Subject: Update on Race war against traditional Siridao,
Bambolim, Nauxim, Cacra and Odxel fishermen in Zuari river by Hotel Grand Hyatt
through water sports, Trawlers and Mini Purse seining
Sir/Madam,
1.
As you are already aware of our letter to you
dated 21st November 2014 that fishermen of Zuari coast in Tiswadi
taluka are facing race war. Here we write to update on the situation since our
last letter of 21st November 2014 and calling upon you to act in
defense of traditional fishermen.
2.
On 22nd November 2014 at around 1.30 pm 5
trawlers were observed violating fishing rights in Zuari river. Minister of
Fisheries, Goa Government was contacted by member of Santa Cruz Panchayat
Sanjay Pereira. The Patrol boat of the fisheries department came and
intercepted the trawlers in the river.
3.
On 24th November 2014 two trawlers were
sighted in Zuari River thereby violating fishing rights of the traditional
fishermen. The trawlers were sighted at 4.45 pm. Director; Fisheries department
Sharmila Monteiro as well as Minister of Fisheries Avertano Furtado was
intimated on their mobiles with request to act. Marine Police were also
contacted. At around 5.05 pm both the trawlers abandoned fishing and raced out
of mouth of River Zuari before they were booked and penalized. Fisheries
department was too slow in acting and interrogating these trawlers. There
is a need for permanent stationing of Police patrol boat in Zuari River so that
offending trawlers like this are not allowed to escape the arms of law.
Investigations are also needed as to whose trawlers that are repeatedly dare to
violate the law.
4.
On 27th November 2014 Naval
police as well as Goa coastal police had a meeting with fishermen in Cacra
village and assured the fishermen of their support. Director of Fisheries who
was to come at the Cacra meeting failed to come and sent a message that she
does not have transport facility to Cacra.
5.
On afternoon of 29th November
2014 police visited Bambolim coast and met up with fishermen in respect to
complaint of Bharat Mukti Morcha about fishing rights violation through water
sports/speed boats of Hotel Grand Hyatt. However as soon as police left, Hotel Grand
Hyatt released two speed boats inside river with tourists on board thereby
violating fishing rights of the local fishermen.
6.
On the 3rd December – 4th December
2014 night unknown number of trawlers was fishing with their lights off.
Fishing for trawlers is banned at the distance of 5 kilometers from the
shoreline of Arabian Sea. They have no business to enter inside Zuari river.
Trawler kind of fishing is ecologically unsustainable as it involves digging of
riverbed. Bharat Mukti Morcha already advised Goa Fisheries department to
station permanent patrol vessel in Zuari to curtail fishing rights violations.
Why department is adamant to accede to this advise is not known.
7.
On December 04 at 3.30 pm three trawlers were
spotted in Zuari river fishing illegally. Department of Fisheries has been
contacted and action against trawlers promised. Fisheries department did not
act in spite of telephonic promise to act. Trawlers continued to fish illegally
till 6.pm. Two trawlers were fishing illegally in Zuari River till late night.
8.
On December 4, 2014 night at 10.30 pm
fishermen in Siridao detained trawler from Vasco belonging to Tulsidas A.
Kukalkar licence no. FVL – 407/0105 – Goa dated 01/01/2004 with six staff on
board. His season’s pass indicates that he has been authorized to carry on
fishing activities in Arabian Sea and not in Zuari river. Trawler in this case
ripped through the fishing net in Zuari river of the fisherman Chandrakant
Lotlikar. Fisheries department must invoke Goa, Daman and Diu Fisheries
Regulation Act, 1980 and rules of this law of 1981 and punish the offender immediately.
When informed over the phone coastal police at Harbor refused to act against
the offending trawler.
This incident shows that policing in Goa has become ineffective and false reports of compliance to law are filed before the Home Ministry while trawlers leisurely violate the law.
This incident shows that policing in Goa has become ineffective and false reports of compliance to law are filed before the Home Ministry while trawlers leisurely violate the law.
9.
On 9th December 2014 at 6.30 pm
Hotel Grand Hyatt released its single speed boat in Zuari river there by
violating fishing rights of the local fishermen.
10.
On 12th December 2015 five trawlers
were fishing in the morning time thereby continuing violations of law. It looks
as if Goa Government is toothless to stop fishing rights violations in Zuari
river. Hope this situation changes immediately.
Awaiting
your positive response for the cause of humanity, ecology and sustainable
fisheries,
Thanking
you in anticipation.
Yours
sincerely,
Sd/-
Maggie
Silveira
President,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa State Unit
Sd/-
Rahul
Gawas
Convener,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Tiswadi Taluka unit
Sd/-
Sanjay
Pereira
Convener,
Bharat Mutkti Morcha, Cacra unit
Sd/-
Rohidas
Andrade
Convener,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Bambolim unit
Sd/-
Soccoro
Braganza
Convener,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao unit
Sd/-
Anthony
Cardozo
Convener,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Curca Unit
Sd/-
Sitaram
Pereira
Convener,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Milind
Palkar
Convener,
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Nauxi unit
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