Monday 15 December 2014

Update on race war in Zuari river

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.
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

1 comment:

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