5 Star Tourism corporate, Marinas, Trawlers threatens the People of Goa!

Bharat Mukti Morcha is deeply concerned about villagers of Agacaim, Siridao, Bambolim, Nauxi, Cacra, Odxel, Caranzalem in Tiswadi, Madkai in Ponda, Chicalim, Vasco, Sancoale and Cortalim are greatly troubled due to threats to livelihood they earn from Fishing in Zuari River using non mechanized fishing methods. Since April 2014 fishing nets of the fishermen have been cut up by water sports boats of the Hotel Grand Hyatt located in Bambolim and fishing activities disrupted. When fishermen objected to this, then Agacaim Police Inspector Devendra Gad came over to Bambolim beach on 19^th April 2014 and slapped local fisherman Vishnu Kankonkar. After that there has been a repeated fishing rights violation. In addition this Hotel Grand Hyatt has blocked access to the Cross and the Chapel by putting up fencing wall from all sides thereby violating community rights. Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has forced setting up of two private marinas inside Zuari River at Sancoale and Nauxim Coast. These marinas are for the rich and will completely disrupt our fishing activities and both the lease deeds of 12 and 14 October 2010 has safety provisions only for mining barges transportation and fishermen are not even acknowledged to exist. Life of this lease deed is 30 years. One lease at Nauxim is with Kargwal constructions Pvt Ltd and other at Sancoale is with Yacht Heaven Pvt. Ltd.

Fishermen are facing grave threats from the illegal – cum- unsustainable fishing carried on by trawlers that dig up the riverbed disrupting fish spawning and breeding site in Zuari River. Trawlers are banned from fishing within 5 kms from the coast in Arabian Sea, while there is complete ban on trawlers in rivers of Goa. Goa State is promoting illegal trawler fishing in Zuari River by refusing to station permanent patrol vessel in Zuari River. State is not allocating Rs. 2 crores to buy Patrol boat in Zuari. While sanctioned 25 crores to Leading hotels to set up Golf Course in Tiracol which local people are opposing. Reports have come that traditional fishermen ‘Ramponkars’ has clashed with mechanized sailing Dinghy in Arabian Sea close to Caranzalem beach. This clash too has been due to current crisis in the Fisheries department where bamon Raj rule is in force. Entire Fisheries bureaucracy in Goa has miserably failed to protect Zuari River and Arabian Sea traditional fishermen and implement Goa, Daman and Diu Fisheries Regulation Act 1980 and the Rules framed for this Act in 1981. Mini per seining, an illegal computerised fishing is threatening sustainability of fisheries in Zuari River. After repeated complaints illegal mini per seining is being conducted at night.

Double standards are followed in undertaking demolition in Coastal areas. In Baina, people’s houses were demolished on 26^th September 2015. In 2009 when Supreme Court ordered demolition of portion of Cidade de Goa hotel, State Government came out with Ordinance to protect this five star hotel and changed law. Ordinance was soon ratified in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Why no ordinance is passed to protect coastal dwellers? Similarly Hotel Grand Hyatt is found illegal by Goa Bench of Bombay High Court in for violating CRZ laws. Yet the Hotel is allowed to operate by paying fines. Why this double standards? BMM calls for halt to any GCZMA initiated demolitions at Katem, Baina till starred Hotels Grand Hyatt and Cidade de Goa are demolished. Three Mobile towers in Bambolim and Nauxim; BMM calls these mobile towers to be uprooted as there is continues radiation risk to human life.

Mandovi River is under tremendous assault. The river has been abused as Gambling den through casinos and laws are formulated for its administration. This coupled with Goa as permanent destination of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) has transformed Goa into gangsters’ paradise for crime and prostitution with nexus with top Politicians. Due to this Fisheries department has been reduced to merely a department to warn fishermen from Fishing in Mandovi before Sea Planes descend into water!

On the Mandovi Coast in Survey no. 2/5 Panelim, Old Goa Coastal Management Authority has permitted construction of Pontoon Jetty inside Mandovi River. This is meant to take super rich tourists to Vanxim island that is scandalously sold by Goa Archbishop Bamon Felipe Neri Ferrao to Eurasian Bamon Mahendra Gaunekar violating Civil Law, Cannon Law and satanic patronage for little less than 55 lakhs. Mahendra Gaunekar in turn handed over this land legally to one Bangalore based corporate called Ozone leisure for 35 crore. Paddy fields, mangroves and flowing water into Mandovi at survey no.8 has been demarked as settlement zone with noting as ‘Hotel/Resort only’ in notified Regional Plan 2021. BJP had promised to scrap RP-2021 in last election manifesto but has betrayed the people of Goa and kept the same in abeyance. Imperialism promotion board that goes in the name of investment promotion board with Chief Minister as its Chairman on in June 2015 has approved not only setting up of Marinas in Zuari in April 2015 but on 14 December 2015 also approved 5 star hotel in Vanxim worth Rs. 750 crore over the low lying areas with thick mangroves, paddy fields, biologically active mud flats and flowing river. Vanxim is island in Mandovi and Santus Cristus (Patron) and Holy Cross, and CRZ laws historically protected Vanxim. And whoever tried to mess with Vanxim awaits disaster. This is for sure as Vanxim stands as most Holy place. Before Fr. Bismarque Dias died-in-action had warned of ecological disaster of flooding on neighboring islands of Malar, Divar, Chorao, Naroa, St.Estavam, Akado and Cumbarjua if Vanxim low lying areas are filled up for Hotel, Golf Course, Private Marinas, Spas, Recreation Clubs, Casinos, Prostitution, Gambling etc. We carry forward his legacy of active combat. Fr. Bismarque your high level of active involvement for Vanxim means lots to the people of Vanxim who are committed to defend Vanxim from hovering vultures like Ozone corporate, Mahendra Gaunekar, Archbishop Felipe Neri Ferrao, Top level bureaucrats, Indian Defense minister Manohar Parrikar, Investment Promotion Board etc. BMM calls upon people of Goa to come forward to strongly objecting this 5 star project in Vanxim.

Champions Yacht club has obtained permissions to carry on fishing in Diwar’s survey no. 118/1 of Naveli-Goltim (Piedade) Panchayat but are engaged in tourism activities.   The letter from the Champions Yacht club dated 26/02/2015 that Director have cited in Director of Fisheries  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. 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 second letter from the Champions Yacht Club is 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. 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.” Boats carry tourists, no fish. This is a big scandal that Director of Fisheries Shamila Monteiro is involved with.

Jai Bharat             Jai Mulnivasi!                    Jai Goa!