Tuesday 15 May 2018

Call up Goa Fisheries Minister now!


Call up the Goa Fisheries Minister Vinoda Palyenkar on his mobile 9158252727 and ask him to act now to protect fisheries in Zuari and stop trawlers and purse seine boats from carrying on illegal fishing. Tell him enough is enough. On May 15, 2018 at 6.40 pm two trawlers are illegally fishing in Zuari river. 

According to reports received one mini purse seine boat bearing name Fatima with registration number 1614 cut and destroyed fishing nets of local fisherman from Odxel at Odxel coast in Zuari river. The incident occurred on May 12, 2018 between 6.30 am to 7.30 am when fisherman was fishing river. Purse seine nets are banned in rivers and within 5 kms distance from the coast. However there are frequent violations and fisheries department and coastal police are duty bound to crack down on the same. One regular notorious violator noticed is boat “Netra” registered with Goa Fisheries department.



Objections to the draft Gram Sabha rules


Date: 24th April 2018
To,
The Director of Panchayats
and Ex-Officio Joint Secretary to the Government of Goa,
3rd Lift, 3rd Floor, Junta House,
Panjim, Goa

Subject: Objections to the draft rules concerning Gram Sabha meetings

Sir,

We write to object draft Rules concerning Goa Panchayat Gram Sabha meetings as notified via no.38/DP/TP/ELN/2017/2312 and published in official gazette – Govt of Goa series I No 2 dated 12th April, 2018 regarding draft further amendment to the Goa Panchayats (Gram Sabha Meetings) Rules, 1996.

We object to one sentence in the substitution of Rule 7 as “No subject shall be discussed in such meetings besides the Agenda as approved by the Gram Sabha”.

We want to let you know that there several people in Goa who does not know to write and for them only way of expression in Gram Sabha is in speaking out their concerns. You cannot make rules like this to stop people from speaking on the spot at Gram Sabhas for it may lead to serious consequences of law and order and accumulation of unexpressed views.

We recommend that Gram Sabha meetings be kept open for discussions under A.O.B (Any Other Business) point.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Maggie Silveira
President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade
Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira
Convenor, Cacra Unit

Socorro Braganza
Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira
Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar
Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Anthony Cardozo
Convenor, Curca Unit

Illegal fishing continues in Zuari


Date: 09th April 2018
To,
The Minister of Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,
The Secretary (Fisheries)
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,
The Secretary (Home)
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,
The Director,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Panjim, Goa

To,
The Police Inspector
Agasaim Police Station,
Agassaim, Goa

To,
The Superintendent of Police
Coastal Security,
Police Headquarters,
Panjim, Goa

To,
The Deputy Superintendent of Police
Coastal Security
Ribandar, Goa

To,
The Collector (North)
Panjim, Goa

To,
The Secretary (Education)
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To
The Captain of Ports
Panjim, Goa

Subject: Illegal Fishing in River Zuari

Madam/ Sir,
There are fresh spate of illegal fishing by trawlers and mini purse seine boats in Zuari river as under:
1.    Every night there is illegal fishing by trawlers and mini purse seine boats between 8.30 pm to 3.30 pm. Number of boats range between two to eight.
2.    On 30/03/2018 at 7.30 am thirty five mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing. It was Good Friday Holiday.
3.    On 29/03/2018 at 6.00 am eight mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing in Zuari.
4.    On 28/03/2018 at 10.00 pm eight trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari
All the four cases mentioned above indicate failure of surveillance system of the Fisheries Department as well of Goa Police. We call upon you
1.    To immediately tighten up the security measures and stop ongoing illegalities.
2.    Efficient co-ordination between police and Fisheries department.
3.    Involve Goa University, Colleges, Schools and other educational institutions in Goa to create awareness about ethical fishing and protection of rivers from purse seine and trawler fishing which is ecologically dangerous.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,


Maggie Silveira
President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade
Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira
Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza
Convenor, Siridao Unit


Anthony Cardozo
Convenor, Curca Unit

Sitaram Pereira
Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar
Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Chandrakant Lotlikar
Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar
Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Amir Mardolkar
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Uttam Martins
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar
Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit


Laxman Mangueshkar
Co-convenor,,Siridao Unit



Illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats in Zuari River and call to involve students


Date: 24th April 2018


To,
The Speaker,
Goa Legislative Assembly,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,
The Minister of Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,
The Secretary (Fisheries),
Government of Goa,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,
The Director of Fisheries,
Panjim, Goa,
To,
The Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security), Police Headquarters,
Panjim, Goa

To,
The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security), Ribandar, Goa

To,
The Police Inspector,
Agassaim Police Station,
Agassaim, Goa

To,
The Leader of the Opposition,
Goa Legislative Assembly,
Porvorim, Goa

To,
MLA,
St. Andre
Constituency



To,
MLA,
Santa Cruz Constituency

To,
MLA,
Talegao Constituency,



Subject: Illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats in Zuari River and call to involve students

Madam/ Sir,

In spite of our repeated intimation to your office illegal fishing by trawlers in Zuari River continues. Here are latest trawler details: Daily between 8.30 pm to 4.00 am in the night time 4 to 5 trawlers regularly carry on illegal fishing. Then on last Sunday 22/04/2018 between 4 to 5 trawlers carried on illegal fishing during day time twice, in the morning at 8.30 am and in the night at 9.50 pm. Trawler “Netra” is one of the repeat offenders and few trawlers are without latest registration numbers from Department of Fisheries.

Here we share latest mini purse seine details: One boat carries on daily illegal fishing Zuari using banned purse seine fishing net from 5.30 am to 9.00 am and 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

We have noted that there is nil co-ordination between Coastal Security Police and Fisheries department and as a result illegal fishing which is also ecologically dangerous is thriving in Zuari river. You are requested to pay immediate attention to this problem and solve it. Your neglect may lead to situation going out of control and total collapse of law and order as well as collapse of fisheries administration in Zuari as it was on 30/03/2018 when 35 mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing without any hindrance from the authorities which we have already informed to Fisheries department as well as to Coastal Police via our letter dated 09th April 2018. 

So you are requested to take identify and penalize offender trawlers and mini purse seine boats as well as take punitive action against responsible officers.
We further request you to involve students and faculty of Goa University and other educational institutions such as BITS Pilani Goa Campus, Collages, Higher Secondary schools etc in tackling this problem as Coastal Security Police as well as Fisheries department has proved to be insufficient and inefficient. We suggest the following pedagogy to engage with Students of above cited institutions:

Ø Explain nature of Zuari River with rich fish diversity back by existing studies
Ø Food Security provided by Zuari river to fishermen and fish consumers human and non-human in Goa
Ø Introduction to sustainable, ecological and ethical fishing practices such as Gillnet fishing, Pagel, Stakes, Rampon etc and general threats to it.
Ø Prevalent law regulating fishing in Goa involving Directorate of Fisheries and Coastal Security Police
Ø Success and Failures of Directorate of Fisheries and Coastal Security Police in tackling illegal fishing by Trawlers and Mini-purse seine boats in Zuari river
Ø Role of Students, Teaching Faculty and Public in tackling illegal fishing in Zuari in the face of repeated failures of Fisheries department and Coastal Security Police – Group discussions
Ø For more details on dynamics of Zuari river fishing refer to field reports and letters at folder “Fishing” at our  blog www.bharatmukti.blogspot.in
Ø Collation generated ideas and Publication of Reports by Department of Fisheries and Coastal Security jointly.
Ø From the Academic Year 2018-2019 launch long term collaboration of Directorate of Fisheries, Coastal Security Police and Education Institutions in Goa to protect and defend River Zuari ecology from illegal fishing.
Should you need our assistance then we will be glad to do so in any possible way for the sake of River Zuari, its ecology and sustainable and ethical fishing practices in Goa.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely



Maggie Silveira
President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade
Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira
Convenor, Cacra Unit

Socorro Braganza
Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira
Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar
Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Anthony Cardozo
Convenor, Curca Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar
Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar
Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Amir Mardolkar
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Uttam Martins
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar
Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit




Laxman Mangueshkar
Co-convenor, Siridao Unit







Copy to:
1.     The Vice-Chancellor,
Goa University, Taleigao, Goa

2.     Director,
BITS Pilani Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa

3.     Principal,
Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pillar, Goa

4.     Principal
Fr. Agnelo Higher Secondary School, Pillar, Goa

5.     Principal
Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Panjim, Goa

6.     Principal
Dempo College of Commerce, Panjim, Goa

7.     Principal,
St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, Goa

8.     St. Joseph Vaz Institute of Education,
Cortalim, Goa

9.     Principal,
MES College, Vasco, Goa

10.                         Principal,
Don Bosco College, Panjim

11.                         Principal,
Don Bosco Higher Secondary, Panjim

12.                         Principal,
Santa Cruz Higher Secondary School, Santa Cruz

13.                         Principal,
Nirmala Institute of Education, Panjim, Goa

14.                         Principal,
Our Lady of Rosary Higher Secondary School, Dona Paula

15.                         Principal,
St. Andrews Higher Secondary School, Vasco

Waters sports excesses in Zuari river

Date: 24th April 2018


To,
The Minister of Fisheries,
Government of Goa
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa


To,
The Secretary (Fisheries)
Government of Goa,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa


To,
The Director,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Panjim, Goa



Subject: Terms and conditions violations of water sports N.O.C for Aquasail Distribtion Co. Pvt. Ldt

Sir
We hereby bring to your notice that there has been violation of terms and conditions no. 5 in Director of Fisheries N.O.C granted to Aquasail Distribution Co. Pvt. Ltd dated 13/10/2017 bearing registration no. ENF/WS/AQUA-SAIL/2017-18/4240 at Bambolim Beach as under:

1.    Water sports boats of Aquasail were out in river at 8.00 am itself on 14/04/2018 while they are not supposed to be in river before 9.30 am as per condition no. 5.
2.    Water sports boats of Aquasail were out till late in river at 6.45 pm on 19/4/2018 even though they are supposed wind up their activities at 5.30 pm as per condition no.5 of the N.O.C cited above.

Now as per the condition no.9 we call upon you that Director of Fisheries revokes the above cited N.O.C to Aquasail Distribution Co. Pvt. Ltd. In our earlier letters to you we have asked you to do the same with regard to violation of Condition no. 01 resulting in hindrance to the fishing activities.

Hoping for your early response,

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,



Maggie Silveira
President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade
Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira
Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza
Convenor, Siridao Unit


Sitaram Pereira
Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar
Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Anthony Cardozo
Convenor, Curca Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Chandrakant Lotlikar
Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Honu Divkar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar
Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Amir Mardolkar
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit


Francis Coelho
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Jonu Shirvoikar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Uttam Martins
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit


Rohit Hadkonkar
Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar
Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar
Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario
Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Laximan Mangueshkar
Co-convenor, Siridao Unit