Saturday a field day for illegal trawler fishing in Zuari

At 1.30 pm today 28th February 2015 there were 20 trawlers fishing illegally in Zuari river. This was reported to Superintendent of Fisheries. He replied for Saturday and Sunday do not contact us. Contact Coastal Police station. When Coastal police station was informed they disclosed the familiar excuse for inaction: breakdown of police boat. So inaction again today. This is Bamon Raj manifested.

Call for (1) stationing permanent fishing patrol boat in Zuari river and (2) Immediate cancelation of permissions for water sports by Aqua sail, Hotel Grand Hyatt etc

Date: 27^th February 2015

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  Secretary (Finance), 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:  Call for (1) stationing permanent fishing patrol boat in Zuari river and (2) Immediate cancelation of permissions for water sports by Aqua sail, Hotel Grand Hyatt etc.

Sir/Madam,

(1)    As you are already aware of our letters to you dated 21^stNovember 2014, 15th December 2014 and 19^th January 2015 and that fishermen of Zuari coast in Tiswadi taluka are facing intense violations of fishing rights. Here we write to update on the situation since our last letter of 19^th January 2015 and calling upon you to act in defense of traditional fishermen and stop illegal fishing in Zuari River by trawlers as well as incursions by Hotel Grand Hyatt, Bambolim through the water sports activities. The details are listed below.

(2) 17^th January 2015:  Fresh fishing rights violations were reported at Bambolim coast in Goa's Zuari river on behalf of Hotel Grand Hyatt. They sent out double motored tourist boat with passengers on board at 9.00 am.

(3) 17^th January 2015 : At 4.00 pm today 6 trawlers are engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari river. Superintendent of fisheries when phoned is asking for the id number of each trawler with the fishermen on shore that is impossible to get. Coastal Police station at Harbor says that their boats have gone to Divar and is unable to attend calls of illegal fishing. At 6.30 pm two trawlers were still carrying on illegal fishing.

(4) 18^th January 2015: at 3.00 pm nine trawlers were present. At 5.00 pm number swelled to 13. Police at Harbor Police station, Vasco contacted, Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado, Director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro contacted. No action taken. No trawlers arrested.

(5) 6^th February 2015: Four trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari River from 7.00 am to 9.30 am.

(6) 9^th February 2015: Morning session witnessed sixteen trawlers engaged in illegal fishing at 7.00 am in Zuari river. Evening session witnessed six trawlers engaged in illegal fishing. When fishermen and member of local Panchayat Sanjay Pereira from  Cacra village phoned up Director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro on her mobile she told him not to call her up to complain and instead direct her calls to Superintendent of fisheries. No action was taken against trawlers today by police or by Fisheries department.

(7) 10^th February 2015: Today it was new record for illegal fishing in Zuari river. In the morning session at 6.00 am 30 trawlers were found to have been engaged in illegal fishing. Police says their boat already patrolling the river. It looks like police bluff fishermen today as no police boat was visible in the river and illegal fishing continued unabated. Superintendent of Fisheries was provoking fishermen to come over to the Fisheries department to create law and order problem.  Then at 5.30 pm 7 trawlers were engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari river. No action taken against them. 

(8) 11^th February 2015: Today afternoon at 1.30 pm Seven trawlers were found engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari river. 

(9) 12^th February 2015: In the morning at 10.30 am 8 trawlers were found to be engaged in illegal fishing.  20 trawlers were found engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari river today at 4.10 pm. Information was sent to all the authorities of the Fisheries department - Minister, Director, Superintendent of Fisheries. Superintendent over the phone denied the existence of illegal trawlers in Zuari. Fishermen challenged him to come. Then Fisheries department patrol boat appeared in Zuari river and confronted the trawlers. Trawlers then left Zuari river. 

(10) 13^th February 2015: At 4.00 pm 8 trawlers were noticed engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari river. Police at Harbour and other authorities in Fisheries department informed about illegal activities of trawlers.

(11) 14^th February 2015: At 6.00 am there were 18 trawlers fishing illegally in Zuari river today. In the evening at 5.00 pm 15 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in the same river close to Siridao coast. Fisheries department patrolling boat was on holiday as today being Saturday. Police boat as per information from coastal police at Vasco Harbor suffered breakdown. After sms was circulated to inform this to public and press as well as authorities in Fisheries department one police boat was found to be rushing to chase the trawlers away into Arabian Sea at around 5.30 pm. No trawlers were detained. All of them fled.

(12) 16^th February 2015: Today morning there were 16 trawlers illegally fishing in Zuari River and fisheries department adopted 'care-a-damn' attitude. Infuriated with such a behavior fishermen entered the office of the department and questioned the authorities. Director Sharmila Monteiro was not committal on providing 24 hour surveillance of Zuari River to stop illegal fishing. She said department can station Patrol Boat only for 10 days in Zuari river and after that boat will have to be shifted to other areas of illegal fishing.

(13) 17^th February 2015: In spite of assurance to stop illegal fishing by the Director of fisheries yesterday, today there were six trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari River.

(14) 18^th February 2015: At 4.30 pm 17 trawlers are engaged in illegal trawler fishing in Zuari river.

(15) 19^th February 2015: Hotel Grand Hyatt did sent out motored tourist boat in Zuari river at 4.30 pm. Fishermen has objected the hotel from indulging in Fishing rights violation.

(16) 19^th February 2015: there were 18 trawlers carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari River. When authorities were contacted at 7.30 am police boats entered Zuari River and intercepted three trawlers. Remaining went away into Arabian Sea were they have permission to carry on fishing. Repeated fishing here takes place only because of Fisheries department has not installed permanent patrol vessel.  

(17)  20^th February 2015: at 4.30 pm two trawlers indulged in violation of fishing rights in Zuari River. 

(18) 21^st February 2015: at 2.30 pm 13 trawlers carried on illegal trawling. Harbor police in Vasco were informed immediately. Police boats arrive three hours later at 5.30 pm. even after police arrived trawlers did not move from the river and went to carry on fishing with police protection. When harbor police were called up they denied have provided police protection, said police might be from Coast Guard.

(19) 21^st February 2015: Over 50 water sports boats are in the river and near 5 motored boats moving around in Zuari with open violations of fishing rights. State Government is actively abating the violations of fishing rights.

(20) 22^nd February 2015: new record for illegal fishing in Zuari river. At 7.00 am 25 trawlers in Zuari river. At 4.00 pm 20 trawler doing the same. So total violations are 45 for the day for trawlers alone.  Besides there were 20 water sports boats in river engaged in water sports activities race.

(21) 23^rd February 2015: 30 trawlers in Zuari river engaged in illegal fishing. Then at 4.00 pm there were 20 trawlers doing the same. Police informed and reported at Zuari at 5.30 pm. Trawlers dispersed. Then returned at 7.00 pm and continued illegal fishing. Police informed again. Police reported that they will come by 8.00 pm in night.

(22) 24^th February 2015: At 2.45 pm there were 16 trawlers engaged in illegal fishing Zuari river. At 7.15 pm on the same day there were five trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari River. Police when contacted said they can send their boats only after 8.00 pm well beyond trawlers moved on after fishing illegally, unsustainably, unethically . This is a deplorable state of affairs as far as sustainability of fisheries is concerned.

(23) 25^th February 2015: At 8.00 am there were 16 trawlers indulging in illegal fishing in Zuari river. Harbor Police, Fisheries Minister of Goa Avertano Furtado was contacted, both promised to send in their boats. But no boats were seen in the river by traditional fishermen. Then again at 3.00 pm 15 trawlers were noticed indulging in illegal fishing. Again Police and Fisheries department was contacted. Again action was promised to Rohidas Andrade. It remained empty promise with no action.

Zero action from police and the Fisheries department was noticed on ground in Zuari River. A trawler continued till well beyond 7.00 pm when was dark and tracking was not possible. Harbor Police as contacted over the phone in the night and asked for their inaction. The reply that was given is that the Police boats went in Zuari River but could not trace any trawlers and met up with Fisheries department boat indulging in Patrolling! Blatant falsehood!

(24) Our Advice: Due these repeated violations of fishing rights we have two advices to Fisheries Department. The first one is to install permanent patrol vessel in Zuari River 24 hour. If there is no boat then get it sanctioned from Finance Ministry. The second suggestion is to revoke permissions for water sports granted to Aqua sail with immediate effect. If any other hotel/firm like Hotel Grand Hyatt, Aldeia de Goa etc has been given permission for water sports then that too must be revoke.

Awaiting your positive and prompt action,

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours sincerely,

            Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

President, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa State 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

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

                Sd/-

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao Unit

         

              Sd/-

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Nauxi Unit

                Sd/-

Jeronio D’Souza,

Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao Unit

                   Sd/-

Vishnu Kankonkar

Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Bambolim

Ongoing illegal fishing in Zuari river

According reports reaching from Odxel-Cacra-Nauxim-Bambolim-Siridao coast today 27th February 2015 sixteen trawlers carried on illegal trawling from 7.00 am onwards. Law and Order situation is pathetic in Zuari river as far as illegal and unsustainable fishing is concerned.

Is Goa Police in Quepem promoting Atrocities on the Tribals?

Adv. John Fernandes

In order to prevent the atrocities on the Tribals and for the protection of Tribals there is a act called the Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act 1989 was promulgated.

Section 3 of the said act gives details as to what acts of a Non Tribal on a Tribal amounts to atrocities.
Rule 3 of the Schedule Castes and the Schedule Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Rules 1995 laid down the precautionary measures the state has to take in preventing atrocities on the Tribals.

That from the month of December 2014 to February 2015 three  incidents of Atrocities on Tribal have been taken place and which has been reported to the Quepem police station. That in none of the cases the Quepem police have taken effective action against the culprit but harassed the complainants.

In the First case one Lourence Oliveira of Mulas Paroda have filed a complaint against a non Tribal on 31/12/2014 stating that his paddy field and plantation existing in his tenanted property under survey No.129/1 of Mulem village of Salcete taluka have been  destroyed. The Quepem police did not initiated action against the culprit. On the contrary coerced said Lourence Oliveira to settle the matter which is against his wishes and to that effect he has filed a complaint before the concerned authorities.

In the Second case one Smt. Sebastiana Carvalho of Bomdamol Quepem  had filed a complaint against one Kaviraj Karmali on 31/1/2015 for partly demolishing her house constructed by her in her plot for which she has paid an amount of Rs.1,85,000/- to one Piety Fernandes who was the developer for the family of Kaviraj Karmali. That said Piety is shown as consenting party in the sale deed executed by the family of Kaviraj Karmali. That inspite of taking the law into his own hand of demolishing the house the police yet to take effective action against said  Kaviraj Karmali. On the other hand when the police called said Sebastiana Carvalho  for inquiry the police instructed said Sebastiana Carvalho to demolish her house and even threatened her of dire consequences. But when said Sebastiana did not demolish the same said Kaviraj Karmali bulldozed the remaining portion of the said house on 20/2/2015. This shows the Quepem police are hands in gloves in demolishing  the house of Said Sebastiana Carvalho.

In the Third case one Rosario Menezes resident of Gonvol Cotombi Quepem-Goa who is the tenant of a property situated at Cotombi, cultivated his paddy field for the vaingon season on 24/1/2015. That on 14/2/2015 two member of the Dessai community with the help of Power tiller damaged the entire crop. In spite of filing complaint under Tribal Atrocities act the Quepem police yet to take effective action against the culprit.

Police bluff to encourage illegal trawler fishing in Zuari river

At 8.00 am of 25th February 2015 there were 16 trawlers indulging in illegal fishing in Zuari river. Harbor Police, Fisheries Minister of Goa Avertano Furtado  was contacted, both promised to sent in their boats. But no boats were seen in the river by traditional fishermen. Then again at 3.00 pm 15 trawlers were noticed indulging in illegal fishing. Again Police and Fisheries department was contacted. Again action was promised to Rohidas Andrade. 

Zero action from police and the Fisheries department was noticed on ground in Zuari river. Trawlers continued till well beyond 7.00 pm when was dark and tracking was not possible. Harbor Police as contacted over the phone in the night and asked for their inaction. The reply that was given is that the Police boats went in Zuari river but could not trace any trawlers and met up with Fisheries department boat indulging in Patrolling! Blatant falsehood!

Bharat Mukti Morcha delegation called on Secretary Fisheries

Six member delegation of Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit led by Maggie Silveira called on Secretary, Fisheries Amjad Tak at Goa Secretariat on 24th February 2015 to appraise him of ground level situation with regards to illegal trawlers fishing and water sports activities carried on by Hotel Grand Hyatt, Bambolim. 

Review was taken on ground level violations of fishing rights and relaxed attitude of Fisheries and Home departments of Goa Government. Exchange of correspondence took place between the Bharat Mukti Morcha and Secretary- Fisheries at official level. 

Police violence involving Agassaim PI Devendra Gad on Fishermen Vishnu Kanconkar on 19th April 2014 - four days after fisheries department granted permissions to 'Aqua sail' 15th April 2014 for water sports in Zuari river -  at Bambolim at the behest of Hotel Grand Hyatt was also discussed.

Illegal trawler fishing in Zuari river

At 2.45 pm on 24th February there were 16 trawlers engaged in illegal fishing Zuari river. At 7.15 pm on the same day there were five trawlers engaged in illegal fishing in Zuari river. Police when contacted said they can send their boats only after 8.00 pm well beyond trawlers moved on after illegal fishing. This is a deplorable state of affairs as far as sustainability of fisheries is concerned.

Thanks to bamon Raj, Goa complete five months of road to landless future for mulnivasis

This below is an extract of leaflet distributed during last Panjim Assembly Elections by Independent Candidate Sadanand Vaigankar of Goa Kull and Munkar Sangarsh Samiti.

 

You may be aware that Manohar Pant on 27^th September 2014 in the name of amendment to the Agricultural Tenancy Act created new law for the protection of landlords, and all the tenants and mundkars have been pushed into misery.

By amending section 4 (a) of Agricultural Tenancy Act government has granted ownership rights to landlords. Via section 46 (b) Tenants are told to approach Civil Court to claim their ownership rights. Via section 60 (c) Tenants are told that in case they intend to approach the Court then they must do it within 3 years. After that tenants will have no right to knock the doors of the Court.

This amendment is opposite of Tenancy laws of 1964, 1965 and 1975. Section 4 (a) of The Agricultural Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 2014, Close 4A Contract farming – (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other provisions of this Act, any person may by an agreement entered into in writing with the landlord or an owner of the land, and duly registered with the Sub-Registrar of the Taluka within whose jurisdiction such land is situated, cultivable, or undertake and carry out any agricultural operations upon, such land.

By this provision landlords can take all the land and strip tenants of all the rights. Most of the landlords are Bamons and almost all the tenants are mulnivasis. The intention of this law is to handover land control to Bamons, thereby ushering intensified rule of Bamon Raj i.e Manusmriti.

In opposition to this law Tenancy Act, 1964, section 7 and as per the government circular dated 20^th December 1995 under no circumstances landlords can get these lands back. Even land abandoned by tenants cannot be reverted back to landlord. Who should get these land is also well set by section 18 J of the above cited government circular.

Circular

    “ A question has arisen as to whether a tenant who is the deemed owner of land under the Goa, Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 (Act 7 of 1964), can revert the land back to the original landlord.

     The matter has been examined and it is hereby advised that under no circumstances can a tenant under the Act, 1964 revert the land back to the landlord but the land shall be disposed off in the manner provided in sub-section (2) of section 18 J of the said Act, 1964.”

A Cardozo, Under Secretary (Revenue) to the Government of Goa.

Panaji, 20^th December 1994

Parrikar’s new law is in complete opposition to the existing law. Section 4 (a) is meant to cheat, loot and against the interest of the tenants. Within this one section Parrikar has destroyed 1964 and 1975 Tenancy law. Through the new pro-landlord law section 46 (b) Parrikar has fixed that tenancy cases will be filed in session court alone. But as per section 58 of Goa, Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 no Court has jurisdiction to settle, decide or deal with any question which is by or under this Act.

“Section 58. of Goa, Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 – (2) save as provided under this Act, no Court shall have jurisdiction to settle, decide or deal with any question which is by or under this Act required to be settled, decided or dealt with by the Mamlatdar, Tribunal, Collector or Government and no order passed by these authorities under this Act shall be questioned in any Civil or Criminal Court.”

Under Section 46 (b) no tenant will get Justice in Session Court. This is because 95% of tenants does not posses their receipts, their names are not entered in Form I & XIV, someone else’s name is entered in Form I & XIV as tenant. It is next to impossible to get witnesses in the Session court. Court will not be able to go and inspect the paddy fields and investigate, for it has no powers to do so. And most importantly tenant has to search and get Opponent landlord. From where the landlord of he two-three generation past will be found by the current generation of tenant to be presented in the Court as Opponent? If Landlord is not presented as Opponent then Court will not accept the case for hearings.In this circumstances no tenant will get Justice. After expiry of three years landlord will personally take over the land.

Under section 60 (c) Manohar Pant (Pant is a title used exclusively in Bamon kingdom of Peshwayee in Pune that was destroyed by  Mahar regiment of British empire in bloody war of 01/01/1818) speaks of providing speedy justice to tenants.

25 years ago BJP set up its shop in Goa. It was then BJP’s first elections. From that day we fought thousands of agitations, so many marches (yatras) went criss-cross Goa. In 2000 BJP government was formed in Goa under Parrikar’s leadership.  Yet for past 25 years Parrikar has not launched a single agitation to get Justice for Tenants, never thought about their rights.

For past 25 years we have not worked for any political party except BJP. We have not voted for any political party except BJP. In this context we cannot question Congress. We are questioning Parrikar. Fro past 50 years tenants in Goa have been denied Justice. Of these Parrikar is responsible for 25 years. If he wanted then through agitation, could have pressurized any government in power and helped tenants to attain Justice. He was the leader of the opposition for past so many years. So, then why he never raised the issue of tenants to government in power?

In March 2012 BJP government was established why he thought of amending tenancy law after two and half years, after Lok Sabha Elections concluded? He was thinking that public will not understand the conspiracy behind this two-and-half years of silence. He knew if he had to bring amendment then it would have negatively affected both the Lok Sabha Seats in Goa.

The Second question, Parrikar used to make public statement repeatedly that people should ‘frame BJP’s Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections and hang on wall’. But in these manifestoes nowhere has he mentioned that he is going to invent Tenancy law and usher in Landlordism that is Bamanism. This he concealed intentionally from Goa’s Bhahujan Samaj.

Mostly Tenancy lands are under control of Bhahujan Samaj and Parrikar has betrayed them. This they have not realized till date as Parrikar has driven them to misery. Eyes of Bhahujan Samaj are blindfolded with numerous government schemes. They will not stay blind for long. The day the eyes of bhahujan Samaj will open Parrikar will realize the power of Bhahujan Samaj. They have not yet understood that the so many welfare schemes that Parrikar has implemented has dished out money that are siphoned off from the pockets of bhahujan samaj itself are returned as schemes.

At Central government level after BJP came to power with absolute majority Narendra Modi has smashed he backbone of farmers. In order to create misery Modi repealed two important legal safeguards on 1^st January 2014. Prior to this farmer was legally safe and secure. In one legal provision it was maintained that if government want to acquire farm land of double crop variety then it was mandatory for the government to take permission of 80% of farmers. After that as a compensation government had to pay 4 times of the contemporary market rate; it was mandatory that while giving this compensation also pay 100% interest for a year.

The second legal provision that was repealed was farmers’ right to challenge land acquisition in the Court of Law. Now both these safeguards are done away with and state can acquire any land at any price and farmers will have no right to challenge in the court of law.

Now if any farmer securely engaged in his farming business and his land is confiscated, what should this farmer do at this moment?