Date: 21st
April 2015
To,
The Commissioner & Secretary
(Ports)
Government of Goa,
Chamber No. 203
3rd Floor,
Secretariat,
Porvorim, Goa.
Subject: Fishing rights violations in Zuari river
affecting villagers of Odxel, Cacra, Nauxi, Bambolim, Siridao, Dona Paula,
Agassaim, Goa Velha, Cortalim, Sancoale etc due MPT proposed marinas
Sir,
We write to you to express our
complete opposition to the Marmagoa Port Trust (MPT) proposed and Goa
Government endorsed two Marinas in Zuari river to cater to the high end
tourists. One of them is in Bambolim and second one in Sancoale as per
declaration of in-charge Chairman of MPT Mr.Cyril George to press on April 8,
2015 in Panjim. The villagers engaged in fishing activities in Tiswadi taluka
are directly affected specially from the villages of Odxel, Cacra, Nauxi,
Bambolim, Siridao, Agassaim, Goa Velha, and Dona Paula are affected in North
Goa while Sancoale, Cortalim, etc villages are affected in South Goa. The
decision of MPT to construct Marinas earlier in Nauxi was opposed on 05
December 2010 and the links to Times of India report is here for your ready
reference:
Villagers successfully opposed this ill-conceived project
of the MPT and now after four years and four months is sought to implement the
same project all over again, this time in Bambolim.
Curca-Telaulim-Bambolim Panchayat in fact passed Gram
Sabha resolution against proposed marina on January 30, 2011 on grounds that it would adversely affect the
traditional fishing activities of the villagers. The villagers also argued that
the waterfront would spell ecological disaster to the village as it require
dredging of the river and construction on the waterfront both of which would
affect the flow of water. You may access links online of the report published
in Times of India:
The village Panchayat of Curca-Telaulim-Bambolim-Nauxim
Gram Sabha on 19th April 2015 has already expressed its unanimous
opposition to the proposed Marinas in Zuari river. Why should serving high end tourists in the form of marinas spell dead
end to local fisher people on the banks of Zuari river? This is important
to answer.
Our understanding is that this decision is declaration of
war against indigenous people as first our land was taken over for Goa
University, International Centre, Aldeia de Goa, Grand Hyatt, and now our river
too is being taken away without our consent. Truly arrogant plus dictatorial
way of functioning intended towards complete destruction of livelihood based on
fishing threatening food security.
Both the proposed marinas in Sancoale as well as Bambolim
are sure to prove to be a doom for the fisher people of both North and South
Goa.
Kindly
convey our views of firm opposition to both the marinas in Zuari river to the
concerned Goa State Government authorities as well as Marmagoa Port Trust (MPT)
and Union Ministry of Shipping as pleasure of high end
tourists cannot be allowed to take priority over our livelihood through fishing.
We urge you to take our views seriously as otherwise
it would lead to serious fall out in the lives of fisher people. Your timely
action to scrap both these marinas would be highly appreciated. You as one of
the senior most officers in the Ministry of Shipping associated with affairs of
MPT are expected by us to act decisively and scrap the two marinas at the
earliest in Sancoale and Bambolim respectively.
Awaiting your early and prompt action,
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
Maggie Silveira
President, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa State
Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Bambolim Unit
Sd/-
Anthony Cardozo
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Curca Unit
Sd/-
Sanjay Pereira
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Cacra Unit
Sd/-
Socorro Braganza
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao Unit
Sd/-
Jeron D’Souza
Convenor, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao Unit
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