Date: 06th
August 2015
To,
Avertano Furtado,
The Minister of Fisheries,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa.
To,
The Secretary (Fisheries)
Secretariat, Porvorim,
Goa
To,
The Director of Fisheries,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Panaji, Goa.
To,
The Superintendent of Police,
Crime Branch,
Ribandar, Goa
Subject:
Scam in the N.O.C. for undertaking cage farming at Navelim, Diwar, Tiswadi at
Survey no. 118/1 granted to the Champions Yacht Club
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon the office of the Director
of Fisheries to immediately revoke the N.O.C. for undertaking cage farming
granted to the Champions Yacht club, Gera Imperium 1, Ground Floor – G12 &
G14, EDC Complex, Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa due to several discrepancies
amounting to scam noticed by us as follows:-
1. The letter
from the Champions Yacht club dated 26/02/2015 that Director have cited in her
N.O.C letter dated 10/03/2015 has dubious character as there are two such letters
with the same date of 26/02/2015.
2. The
first letter from Champions Yacht Club is dated 26/02/2015 but inward to the
Department of Fisheries, Panaji is dated 03/03/2015 with inward number 7570.
The letter is signed by Hema Malini N. with no indication of her designation in
the Champions Yacht Club.
3. The
second letter from the Champions Yacht Club is also dated again 26/02/2015 but
inward entry to the Department of Fisheries, Panaji is 09/03/2015 with inward
no.7672. That means the letter was given entry just one day before the
Director’s N.O.C for cage farming. N.O.C. was granted next day 10/03/2015. This
letter is signed by Hema Malini, Sree Sai Champions Family trust. In this
letter one additional sentence appears from the first letter namely “We also
need approval to use mechanized/ non-mechanized boats to reach these cages.”
4. The
letter head used for both the letters is of Champions Yacht Club and there is
no mention of any links with Sree Sai Champions Family Trust as per documents
procured under R.T.I from the Directorate of Fisheries. Hema Malini allias Hema
Malini N appears is aware of the fraud and that’s the reason she refrained from
mentioning her designation in the Champions Yacht Club.
5. Both
the letters are not identical but they are separate with the same date 26/02/2015.
It is not clear as to in response to which letter that the Director of
Fisheries has granted the N.O.C for cage farming. Hence deliberate confusion is
sought be created in this matter with vested interests at play.
6. Further
R.T.I replies from the office of the village Panchayat of Goltim-Navelim
(Piedade) has revealed that the Champions Yacht Club is not carrying on any
kind of fishing activity at survey number 118/1. Panchayat is also not aware of
the date of commencement of fishing activities at survey number 118/1.
Panchayat is also unaware of the fish species used at survey no 118/1 for
breeding/rearing purpose.
7. On
15th June 2015 we noticed advertisement banner of Champions group at
Ribandar near Chorao Ferry Warf and boats carrying the staff to work at
Champions Yacht Club in Divar. The advertisement banner advertised tours for
Divar as tours to Champions Island. There was also mention of website on the
banner as www.championsisland.com .
This website as accessed on 16th June 2015 is about actual ongoing
activities in Divar at survey no 118 as a base to carry on tourism activities.
On payment of Rs.1000/- or Rs.1,500/- per day tourist can enjoy Fishing,
Kayaking and Pontoon Boat Rides. The website also has pictures of destroyed mangroves
and many enjoying boat rides next to them. Ironically both the letters of 26th
February 2015 records “The property also had some areas covered with mangroves, which help in
providing shelter and nutrition for wide variety of fishery.” This means mangroves
are deliberately cut down hence the sentence is in past tense. This website
gallery has a photograph of CEO of Champions Yacht Club Subhakar Rao Surapaneni
himself personally rowing in yacht for pleasure in the middle of destroyed
mangroves with one female child. Champions Yacht Club was aware of the
importance of mangroves to fishery and yet it indulged in destroying the same
and evidence posted on above mentioned website. This is a supreme demonstration
of arrogance towards fisheries, law and nature. (Has the Director of Fisheries
carried on site inspection before granting of N.O.C. considering that inward
was done on 9th February 2015 and N.O.C granted next day?)
8. The
exact quote from this website is “Island: Picnic + Water Sports Rs. 1,000/- per
person. 300 yards off the shores of Ribandar, this open ocean playground is
stocked with unlimited exiting water sports activities: Kayaks, Paddle boats,
Car boats, Swan rides, Fishing, Soft drinks, snacks and water bottle. Time
slots12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm & 4 pm Pick up point: Ribandar Jetty.” This
Jetty is used by Public plying ferry to Chorao. Tourists are also shown as
indulging in fishing activities in open waters of Mandovi river on Yachts. On
ground investigation at survey number 118/1 revealed that hard liquor along
with beer is continuesly being sold to the visiting tourists.
9. N.O.C
from the Director of Fisheries has been used for tourism purpose. The website
mentioned on the letterhead to make two dubious letter of 26th
February 2015 to the Director of Fisheries - www.championsyachtclub.com - reveals
zero activities in fisheries sector except mere mention of cage farming and overwhelming focus on tourism and water
sports. It is unlikely that Director of Tourism has not checked the track
record of Champions Yacht Club in fishing activities in past. If the Director
has done so then it is sign of high degree of incompetence that calls for
severe reprimand.
10. Message
from the Champions Yacht Club CEO Subhakar Rao Surapaneni itself is clear on
the above mentioned website and Divar is being sought to be projected for
tourism purpose on the above cited website, “At Divar Island, one can have the
highest boating options and travelers can even have a meal right in the middle
of a lake in a floating BBQ boat.” So the second letter of 26th
February 2015 given for inward on 09th March 2015 as referred in
point 3 above was to get legal cover for these tourism boats to enter into
island for tourism purpose.
11. We
however have observed that N.O.C from Director of Fisheries is used as an entry
point for mechanized boats not for fishing but tourism purpose in CRZ area of
survey no.118/1 of Goltim, Tiswadi. Fishing is only the pretext for tourism
activities and Director of Fisheries is active participant in this scam as
N.O.C granted on 10/03/2015 is fraud beyond doubt.
12. Bharat
Mukti Morcha calls upon The Secretary (Fisheries) and the Director of Fisheries
for immediate revocation of this N.O.C. granted to the Champions Yacht Club.
13. Bharat
Mukti Morcha calls for police investigation action into nexus between the
Champions Yacht Club and the Director of Fisheries who entertained two different
applications of dubious nature dated 26th February 2015 as explained
in above points 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 and without specifying as to which
applications Director has responded to and issued N.O.C that is misused for tourism
purpose without carrying on prior site inspection and granting of N.O.C.
14. Criminal
proceedings are initiated against the Champions Yacht Club for all the reasons
mentioned in all the above 13 points.
Kindly act with urgency,
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Maggie Silveira
President, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Goa State Unit
Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade,
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha
Tiswadi Taluka Unit
Sd/-
Sanjay Harmalkar
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Divar Unit
Sd/-
Aaron D’Mello,
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Old Goa Unit
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