Marina objections before Goa State Pollution Control Board

11^th February 2016

To,

The Chairman,

Goa State Pollution Control Board,

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Objections to granting of Consent to operate and Consent to Establish to Kargwal Construction Pvt Ltd, Mumbai and Yacht Heaven (Goa) Pvt Ltd, Vasco in Zuari River

Sir,

We have read media reports that Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is in the process of granting Consent to operate and Consent to Establish under the Air Act and Water Act. We read in press that this issue was discussed in the 119^th meeting of the GSPCB held on January 28, 2016.

We have studied the information submitted in Form I by both the marinas project proponents and after studying the matter arrived at the conclusion that if marinas are set up in Zuari then there will be substantial aggression on fishing spaces. Moreover MPT has arbitrarily claimed jurisdiction over Zuari river in May 2000 with an notification from Union Ministry of Shipping. Not even Goa Government was consulted before taking this decision.

Further you must note that in the two lease deeds signed with above referred two marinas in October 2010 Fishermen are not even acknowledged to have been existing. It has safeguarded only the interest of mining companies by including special clause safeguarding movement of barges during marinas construction and post construction phase.

MPT has leased out over 2,50,000 sq.mts of river between two low tide lines on shore in North and South of Zuari. Over Few hundred fishermen carry on the fishing activities in this river and support their livelihood. We are surprised that you without consulting all the fishermen has been conducting affairs relating to Zuari River Marinas.

We must fore – inform you that this aggression is second aggression on the livelihood of these people who are carrying on fishing in Zuari specially from Nauxim, Cacra, Odxel, Bambolim areas. Most of these people were never into fishing till Goa University was set up and the tribals cultivating horticulture were displaced occupationally. They had no place to cultivate and hence made transition as fishermen. People who carry on fishing are from Madkai, Aggassaim, Siridao, Cortalim, Sancoale, Chicalim, Vasco, Dona Paula, Caranzalem, Odxel, Cacra, Nauxim, Bambolim etc. The situation of these fishermen along with others is already volatile as traditional fishermen are facing problems from trawlers, mini per seining, and water sports. While these are being battled tooth and nails,  marinas is the biggest threats to fishermen of all these and we urge you not to grant any permissions in the form of Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate under Air Act and Water Act.

Just for the sake of serving high-end tourists you must not push traditional fishermen towards dead-end. Marinas are doing exactly this. There is no security and safety to fishing from marinas. It fact it seeks to violently stop it through the sheer nature of its existence and activities.

We call upon your office not to grant Consent to Operate and Consent to Establish under Air Act and Water Act. We object the construction of two Marinas in Zuari River and has already communicated our objections to various authorities including MPT.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

     Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

President,

Goa State Unit

      Sd/-

Sanjay Pereira

Convener,

Cacra unit

     Sd/-

Rohidas Andrade

Convener,

Bambolim unit

     Sd/-

Soccoro Braganza

Convener,

Siridao Unit

      Sd/-

Anthony Cardozo

Convener,

Curca Unit

      Sd/-

Sitaram Pereira

Convener,

Odxel Unit

      Sd/-

Milind Palkar

Convener,

Nauxi unit

      Sd/-

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha,

Siridao Unit

      Sd/-

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor

Odxel Unit

     Sd/-

Honu Dinkar,

Co-convener,

Odxel Unit

      Sd/-

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary,

Nauxi Unit

     Sd/-

Bikaro Dias

Co-convener,

Odxel Unit

     Sd/-

Yeshwant Shirodkar,

Co-convener,

Odxel Unit

      Sd/-

Manguesh Sawant,

Co-convener,

Odxel unit

       Sd/-

Amir Mardolkar,

Co-convener,

Nauxim Unit

       Sd/-

Francis Coelho,

Co-convener,

Nauxim Unit

       Sd/-

Dulba Pereira,

Co-convener,

Cacra Unit

       Sd/-

Santosh Gauns,

Co-convener,

Cacra Unit

       Sd/-

Sheila D’mello,

Co-convener

Cacra Unit

      Sd/-

Santosh Kukalkar,

Co-convener

Cacra unit

Copy to:

(1) Mr. Vishnu Wagh, MLA St.Andre constituency

(2) Mrs. Alina Saldanha, MLA, Cortalim Constituency

(3) Sarpanch, Curca-Bambolim Panchayat

(4) Sarpanch, Sirdidao Panchayat

(5) Sarpanch Agasaim Panchayat

(6) Sarpanch, Cortalim Panchayat