Date:30th September 2015
1
To,
The Governor 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 Captain of Ports,
Government of Goa
Panjim, Goa.
|
7
To,
Vishnu Surya Wagh,
Member of Legislative
Assembly,
St.Andre Constituency,
Goa
|
8
To,
The Superintendent of
Police (South Goa)
Margao, Goa
|
9
To,
The Director-General
of Police,
Panjim, Goa
|
10
To,
The Collector (North)
Panjim, Goa
|
Subject:
Massive trawler illegal fishing in Zuari
river and call for immediate dismissal of Director of Fisheries Dr.Shamila Monteiro for
her nexus.
Sir/Madam,
We bring to your urgent attention for action
massive acts of illegal fishing in Zuari River by trawlers as below:
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 the 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. Minister Avertano
Furtado then called up Rohidas Andrade of Bambolim at around 8.00 am warned him
against complaining via sms to anyone. He declared that he will deliberately
encourage illegal fishing by trawlers allowing them to go berserk in their
illegalities. Goa is truly unfortunate to deserve such an insensitive, proud,
arrogant and intellectually bankrupt Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado who
has triggered complete collapse of law and order situation in Zuari River.
17. 3rd
September 2015 22 trawlers illegally carried on fishing at 2.45 pm.
18. 4th
September 2015 13 trawlers carried illegal fishing in Zuari River at from 3.00
pm till 4.30 pm
19. 5th
September 2015 at 8.00 am till 11.00 am 12 trawlers carried on illegal fishing
in Zuari River. In the evening 8 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari
River from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Police at Harbour police station were contacted
but refused to act. Police informed that their patrolling boat is not in
working condition.
20. 7th
September 2015 at 11.00 am 2 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari River.
At this time Superintendent of Fisheries Chandrakant Velip was in the village
along with the Patrolling Boat of the Fisheries Department. Around 95
traditional fishermen gathered together for a meeting on Zuari coast at Cacra
village along with their canoes. Meeting was called by Fisheries Minister
Avertano Furtado and was to be attended also by Director of Fisheries
Dr.Shamila Monteiro. But none of them – Minister as well as the Director came
for the meeting for the reasons best known to the Minister Avertano Furtado and
the Director of Fisheries Dr. Shamila Monteiro. This meeting was decided in the
Secretariat in the Chamber of the Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado on August
31, 2015 after discussions with Sanjay Pereira.
Superintendent of Fisheries Chandrakant Velip was told by the
traditional fishermen that they are opposed to the trawlers carrying on illegal
fishing in Zuari River and instructed fisheries department to implement law
strictly. He also agreed to prepare a report of his visit and submit it the
Ministry with copy to the Fishermen.
21. 11th
September 2015 at 7.00 am 8 trawlers illegally carried on illegal fishing in
Zuari River. Then at 5.00 pm 12 trawlers carried on illegal fishing.
22. On
12th September at 7.30 am 17 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in
Zauri River. Then at 5.00 pm again 17 trawlers were noticed carrying on illegal
fishing in Zuari River.
23. 13th
September 2015 illegal fishing in Zuari river was carried on by 22 trawlers at
5.55 pm.
24. 14th
September 2015 at 6.50 am 25 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari
river.
25. On
the same day of 14 September 2015 at 4.10 pm another 25 trawlers carried on
illegal fishing in Zuari River. Illegal fishing has extended right up to
Agacaim – Cortalim Bridge in Zuari River.
26. On
20th September 2015 at 8.15 am 5 trawlers carried on illegal fishing
in Zuari river within one kilometer distance of Nauxi-Odxel coast. Police at
Harbor Police station were contacted by Rohidas Andrade over the phone at time
when the illegalities were going on. Police refused to act on the pretext that
their boats are broken down and the fisheries department must get their boats
to combat illegal fishing by Trawlers in Zuari River.
27. 23rd
September 2015 from 6.30 pm to 8.00 pm three trawlers carried on illegal
fishing in Zuari within 500 meters of Cacra-Odxel coast. Police refused to act.
Goa Minister of Fisheries Avertano Furtado feigned ignorance in spite of being
phoned to inform by Sanjay Pereira. He promised to station permanent patrol
boat to check illegal fishing.
28. 24th
September 2015 at 6.00 am 15 trawlers carried on illegal fishing carried on
illegal fishing in Zuari River.
29. 25th
September 2015 at 8.20 am 14 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari
River. Police at harbor Police station when called up over the phone then informed
Rohidas Andrade that their patrol boat is not in working conditions for past
four days and disclosed that Fisheries department has 2 patrol boats that can
be used for this purpose. Goa Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado was informed
over the phone. What action he took is not known. However it must be noted that
when Soccoro Braganza from Siridao called Fisheries Minister he spoke rudely in
Konkani with intention to cause insult and demoralization. Yet we will not
allow that to happen. We neither accept his insults nor will be demoralized.
30. 25th
September 2015 at 4.00 pm carried on illegal fishing within 500 meters of Zauri
river Siridao-Odxel coastline. Director of Fisheries Dr.Shamila Monteiro was
contacted by Socorro Braganza to inform her about ongoing illegalities. She
listened, remained non-committal and disconnected the phone.
31. 28th
early morning 5 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari River. Police at
harbor police station said they will send their boat to act against these
trawlers in telephonic communications with Rohidas Andrade. Same day evening
from 4 pm onwards 30 trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari River close
to Odxel – Siridao coastline. Police when contacted disclosed to Rohidas
Andrade that their boat has suffered breakdown. Mobile number of the Director
of fisheries was switched off. Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado did not
answer the calls on his mobile. This act of omission on part of the Fisheries
department once again proves that Goa Fisheries Minister as well as Director of
Fisheries are not supporting traditional fishermen but are supporting illegal
fishing trawlers in River Zuari.
Looking at the way the fishing rights
violations are being carried on by trawlers in Zuari River it reflects very
poor capacity of the Goa Government to respect the implementation of law in
force namely The Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1980 and
Rules, 1982 that was formed after very strong movement of the traditional
fishermen all over Goa. It appears that Goa government is behaving cowardly in
implementing the law mainly because it does not care for traditional fishermen
of Goa for the reasons best known to the State of Goa and its Directorate of
Fisheries. Considering the aggressive violations of fishing laws by trawlers we
have no doubt that this violations is taking place with active connivance of Director
of Fisheries and we have already filed our letter in this regard on 13th
July 2015 before Secretary (Fisheries) and other authorities giving evidence of
nexus between the Director of Fisheries and the Trawlers indulging in violation
of fishing rights in Zuari river.
The traditional Fishermen of Odxel, Cacar,
Nauxim, Bambolim, Siridao are fully dependent for their daily livelihood on
fishing in Zuari Rvier. After knowing all this Director is only giving them
false promises and not taking any action.
In the above background Bharat Mukti Morcha
calls for the immediate dismissal of the Director of Fisheries as it is due to
her open defense and logistics support all the illegal fishing by trawlers is
being carried on in Zuari River including illegal night fishing. It is shameful
as the Director, that she is unable to use her chair for the cause of
traditional fishermen after ‘N’ number of phone calls to her personally. It
looks very clear without doubts that Dr.Shamila Monteiro is not fit to occupy the
chair as a director of fisheries. She should be terminated with immediate effect.
She should be replaced by a person who will act considering the facts on ground
reality which is a need. Bharat Mukti Morcha looks into this reality on ground
and calls upon you to act.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Yours sincerely,
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
Sd/-
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
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