BHARAT MUKTI MORCHA: Goa Fisheries department called to defend fishing interest against marinas

Date: 27th October 2015

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

Secretary (Fisheries),

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

Director,

Directorate of Fisheries,

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Fishing rights violations in Zuari river due to MPT proposed marinas

Sir/Madam,

We write to you to express our complete opposition to the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) proposed 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 then Acting Chairman and Deputy 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:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Nauxi-meet-opposes-MPT-marina-plans/articleshow/7049993.cms

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 and additional one at Sancoale.

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:

http://goachronicle.com/gram-sabha-opposes-mpts-marina-project/

The village Panchayat of Curca-Telaulim-Bambolim-Nauxim Gram Sabha on 19^th 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 land was taken over for Goa University, International Centre, Aldeia de Goa, Grand Hyatt, and now Zuari 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. Aldeia de Goa and Grand Hyatt are starred hotels serving tourists and are illegitimately occupying land of local tribal people’s homeland. This is nature of aggression perpetuated on indigenous people of Goa in the name of tourism on land. And now this aggression on indigenous people including ST. OBC people has been extended into Zuari river. We have not forgotten MPT aggression on Cacra village in 1997 when it permitted Timblos to construct Offshore Stockyard and Berth (OSB) that was opposed successfully by the villagers.

Kindly convey our views of firm opposition to your seniors at the Union Ministry of Shipping as pleasure of high end tourists cannot be allowed to take priority and push fishing communities into dead end.

The Lease agreements of 12 and 14 October 2010 – one in Nauxim of MPT with Kargwal Constructions Pvt Ltd and another in Sancoale of MPT with Yacht heavens Pvt Ltd – has written clause to allow free flow of Barges undisturbed “The LESSEE shall take all precautions to ensure that barge movements are not affected during the construction as well as operation period of the Marina” and fishermen are not even acknowledged to have been existing and fishing even though fisheries department, Government of Goa has issued licenses to several people to carry on fishing in Zuari River.

We hereby advise you to convey to the Union Ministry of Shipping in New Delhi that Marinas in Zuari will adversely affect fishing activities and that ask for the cancellation of these plans to set up marinas in Zuari River. The affected locations from where people come and fish in Zuari river includes Caranzalem, Nerul, Dona Paula, Odxel, Cacra, Nauxi, Bambolim, Siridao, Goa Velha, Agacaim, Madkai, Cortalim, Sancoale, Chicalim, Vasco etc.

Any attempt to forcefully bulldoze marinas that are stalled due to public pressure for past 5 years will have serious repercussions for the lives of fishing community. Needless to say that already aggravated situation will further deteriorate. We have already documented this deteriorating condition for your ready reference at http://www.bharatmukti.blogspot.in/search/label/Fishing

We urgently call upon you to protect interest of fishing in Zuari without compromising in any way from lobbies connected to tourism, shipping, prostitution and gambling.

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