From the way events unfolded today a new chapter has been added to Goa's history: Its Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtadao has turned into aggressive promoter of illegalities in Zuari river. This was revealed in a dramatic manner today early morning at 6.00 am. At this time traditional fishermen from Sirdao, Cacra, Bambolim, Odxel, Nauxim etc were already carrying on fishing in Zuari river. Then all together 40 trawlers came and started indulging in illegal fishing.
Traditional fishermen from Sirdao, Cacra, Nauxim, Bambolim called the Harbor police but there was no response from them for they just did not pick up the receiver. Then they called up the Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and complained to him about the illegal fishing being carried out by trawlers who are licensed to carry on fishing only in Arabian Sea and not in Zuari river.
Avertano refused to comply and told local fishermen from Siridao that he will not act against trawlers violating the law in place. He asked the traditional fishermen to go in their canoes and attack trawlers in the middle of the Zuari river. This response shocked the traditional fishermen in Zuari river as the Minister who was often referred to as 'gentleman' has suddenly transformed himself into a mountain of arrogance. He looked suddenly drained out of his patience and the spirit of justice has departed from his life. He no longer cares for the law or the Constitution of India by which he swore by when he was inducted into cabinet and allotted fishing portfolio.
Then he received one sms from traditional Fishermen on Zuari coast calling Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado arrogant. This led him to loose his mental patience and cool totally. He called up fishermen in Bambolim and warned him that till President of Bharat Mukti Morcha speaks to him today he will get trawlers to carry on illegal fishing all over Zuari.
This utterances of desperation from the Fisheries Minister indicate that Bharat Mukti Morcha has been marching forward in its task of challenging Bamon Raj in Goa. Earlier on 31st August 2015 meeting was called to strike a compromise on various issues on which Zuari coastal fishermen has been confronting Goa government time and again. Bharat Mukti Morcha was served letter by Fisheries department Superintendent of Fisheries after this meeting was concluded. So clearly Minister never wanted Bharat Mukti Morcha for the meeting. And even if the letter was received on time Bharat Mukti Morcha would never compromise on any of the issues in Zuari river - Marinas, Water sports, illegal fishing by trawlers etc.
Bharat Mukti Morcha considers it is a pity that Goa has a Minister in Avertano Furtado whose legs are so agile on Football field and could fly to Brazil has messed up affairs on illegalities in Zuari.
Few months ago Superintended of Fisheries had served letter to few trawler co-operatives in Vasco warning them for carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river. Fisheries department then took a U-turn and started aggressively promoting illegal trawling. this aggression was first demonstrated by Director of Fisheries Dr.Shamila Monteiro and Fishing Minister himself has demonstrated same killer instinct to promote illegal fishing.
Here is a past month diary of illegal fishing that was carried on in Zuari river under the supervision of Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Director Dr. Shamila Monteiro, the two culprits who used their power to plunder Zuari and put Harbor police to sleep. Both of them will be remembered for their actions. For their actions reveals State Rule by terror tactics. We will not be surprised if India's defense Minister Bamon Manohar Parrikar is involved in all this.
Traditional fishermen from Sirdao, Cacra, Nauxim, Bambolim called the Harbor police but there was no response from them for they just did not pick up the receiver. Then they called up the Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and complained to him about the illegal fishing being carried out by trawlers who are licensed to carry on fishing only in Arabian Sea and not in Zuari river.
Avertano refused to comply and told local fishermen from Siridao that he will not act against trawlers violating the law in place. He asked the traditional fishermen to go in their canoes and attack trawlers in the middle of the Zuari river. This response shocked the traditional fishermen in Zuari river as the Minister who was often referred to as 'gentleman' has suddenly transformed himself into a mountain of arrogance. He looked suddenly drained out of his patience and the spirit of justice has departed from his life. He no longer cares for the law or the Constitution of India by which he swore by when he was inducted into cabinet and allotted fishing portfolio.
Then he received one sms from traditional Fishermen on Zuari coast calling Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado arrogant. This led him to loose his mental patience and cool totally. He called up fishermen in Bambolim and warned him that till President of Bharat Mukti Morcha speaks to him today he will get trawlers to carry on illegal fishing all over Zuari.
This utterances of desperation from the Fisheries Minister indicate that Bharat Mukti Morcha has been marching forward in its task of challenging Bamon Raj in Goa. Earlier on 31st August 2015 meeting was called to strike a compromise on various issues on which Zuari coastal fishermen has been confronting Goa government time and again. Bharat Mukti Morcha was served letter by Fisheries department Superintendent of Fisheries after this meeting was concluded. So clearly Minister never wanted Bharat Mukti Morcha for the meeting. And even if the letter was received on time Bharat Mukti Morcha would never compromise on any of the issues in Zuari river - Marinas, Water sports, illegal fishing by trawlers etc.
Bharat Mukti Morcha considers it is a pity that Goa has a Minister in Avertano Furtado whose legs are so agile on Football field and could fly to Brazil has messed up affairs on illegalities in Zuari.
Few months ago Superintended of Fisheries had served letter to few trawler co-operatives in Vasco warning them for carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river. Fisheries department then took a U-turn and started aggressively promoting illegal trawling. this aggression was first demonstrated by Director of Fisheries Dr.Shamila Monteiro and Fishing Minister himself has demonstrated same killer instinct to promote illegal fishing.
Here is a past month diary of illegal fishing that was carried on in Zuari river under the supervision of Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Director Dr. Shamila Monteiro, the two culprits who used their power to plunder Zuari and put Harbor police to sleep. Both of them will be remembered for their actions. For their actions reveals State Rule by terror tactics. We will not be surprised if India's defense Minister Bamon Manohar Parrikar is involved in all this.
1. 9th
August 2015 from 7.00 am to 10.30 am 2 trawlers in Zuari River violating law
carried on illegal fishing.
2. 15th
August 2015 at 2.30 pm 30 trawlers in Zuari River carried on fishing illegally.
Open violations on 68th Independence Day of India.
3. 16th
August 2015 carried on fishing early morning when it was dark. 18 trawlers were
noticed carrying on illegal fishing nearing 7.00 am. Coastal police alerted at
7.00 am, trawlers went away. Then 2 trawlers came again at 9.30 am and carried
on illegal fishing till 4.00 pm. Director of Fisheries Dr. Shamila Monteiro was
contacted over the phone and informed of these flagrant violations of fishing
rights. Director said she will settle the matter and will not allow any more
violations. She is giving all fake promises continuously for months together.
Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado was contacted over the phone and informed
of continuing violations of fishing rights in Zuari.
4. 17th
August 2015 at 6.30 am 9 trawlers were found to carry on illegal fishing in
Zuari River.
5. 19th
August 2015 from 11.00 am beyond 3.30 pm two trawlers carried on illegal
fishing near Siridao coast in Zuari river.
6. 20th
August 2015 from 6.00 am 6 trawlers fishing illegally in Zuari River beyond 12.00
am in afternoon.
7. 21st
August 2015 from 11.10 am onwards 35 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in
Zuari River. Coastal police contacted at Harbor police station, Vasco. Police
refused to act as they claimed were on bandobast
duty at Vasco Saptah. Police informed that their patrol vessel is stationed
in Vasco on Saptah duty and they refused to act against trawlers.
Superintendent of Fisheries intimated asked to take action. He asked fishermen
to use their boats to raid trawlers. Representative of fishermen Sanjay Pereira
refused to oblige with this nasty suggestion made orally at the face-to-face
meeting at the Fisheries department at 11.10 am. Fisheries department too refused
to sent their patrol boat to chase away the trawlers. As a result these
trawlers carried on illegal, ecologically harmful practice of trawling till
6.00 pm. Minister of Fisheries Avertano Furtado was contacted at around 2.00 pm
and he said he needs two days time to solve this problem of illegal fishing in
Zuari. Ministers’ response is surprising as he has been constantly kept
informed about illegal fishing by trawlers in Zuari for thee past nine months
and he has not taken any effective steps to stop this ecologically hazardous,
legally banned practice of trawling in Zuari River. It’s utterly disgusting to
note complete crisis in Fisheries department and ever flourishing of illegal
trawling in Zuari.
8. 22nd
August 2015 from 6.00 am to 7.50 am 10 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in
Zuari. Director of Fisheries, Superintendent of Fisheries, as well as Minister
of Fisheries informed about this violation.
9. 23rd
August 2015 at 6.30 am two mini-per seining boats tore in Zuari river tore
apart nets of the traditional fishermen.
10. 27th
August 2015 five mini-per seining boats at 1.30 pm carried on fishing near
Bambolim coast inside Zuari river. Earlier at 9.00 am 8 boats carried on
illegal mini-per seining in Zuari river. Traditional fishermen are opposed to
mini-per seining inside Zuari river on ecological and legal grounds leading to
depletion of fish catch for traditional fishermen.
11. 27th
August 2015 at 3.15 pm two trawlers carried on illegal fishing very close to
Nauxim and Siridao coast. Director of Fisheries as well as the Minister of
Fisheries were informed over the mobile phone message. Police at Harbor police
station in Vasco were contacted and they informed that Police boat will reach
to act against illegal trawlers from ‘Agacaim.
12. 28th
August 2015 at 11.30 pm 22 mini-per seining boats carried on illegal fishing in
Zuari river. Superintendent of Fisheries Shri Chandrakant D. Velip confirmed
illegal nature of nets used by these boats while speaking over the phone with
Sanjay Pereira.
13. 30th
August 2015 16 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari river at 3.30 pm.
14. 1st
September 2015 16 trawlers carried on illegal fishing at 9.00 am.
15. 2nd
September 2015 25 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari river at 2.30
pm.
16. 3rd
September 2015 40 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari river from 6.00
am onwards. Police at harbor police station did not answer the calls to receive
complaints. Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado was contacted over the phone by
Sanjay Pereira to complaint. Mr. Furtado behaved very arrogantly and told
Sanjay Pereira, member of Santa Cruz Panchayat representing Cacra and Convener
of Bharat Mukti Morcha, Cacra Unit to go in the river in Canoes and attack
trawlers themselves. This is completely uncalled for arrogance on behalf of the
Fisheries Minister asking traditional fishermen to take law into their hands
and signals complete collapse of fisheries administration.
17. 3rd
September 2015 22 trawlers illegally carried on fishing at 2.45 pm.
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