Response to Ashwin Tombat: Reasons for objecting Nauxim AHOY Marina Public Hearing

The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power o make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.

                                                                                                                                                                                  Malcolm X

On Sunday 27^th October 2019 Ashwin Tombat wrote thought provoking article about Marina at Nauxim in Marathi daily Lokmat. Points he raised are translated into English deserves closer scrutiny. English version of his article is available online here. 

The First point Tombat communicates is an assumption: Europe has mare than 4000 marinas with 5 lakh berths but still waters there are healthier than Goa waters.

What is the evidence to prove this has not be supplied are even hinted so we need to cross check it this is indeed true. In Goa release of urban waste untreated and treated waste into rivers as well as mining run-offs into rivers has created intense pollution of rivers in Goa. Role of mining industry in polluting Goa’s rivers is recorded in first meeting of the Goa State Pollution Control Board and available online. However comparative study between Europe and Goa waters with regard to Pollution standards needs to be shared by Ashwin Tombat publicly based on which he has made this assumption.

Second point that Tombat communicates is a question: When a small nations like Monaco and Singapore can have so many marinas then what harm will be done if Goa has one Marina?

Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) - decided against Sancoale Marina proposal few years prior in 2013. In a letter dated 30^th December 2013 GSBB filed its objections before GSPCB citing several reasons for rejecting proposal to set up marina named ‘Yatch Haven (Goa)’ in Sancoale bay in Zuari river. One of the reason is the EIA ignoring of the existence schedule specie Window Pane Oyster (Placuna Placenta) and diverse other marine organisms such as the pistol shrimp, clams, fiddler crabs, etc at the proposed site for marina. Further GSBB expressed apprehension and concern on the likely impact during constructional and operational phases on the general ecology, hydrodynamics, sedimentology, and livelihood potential that the bay has traditionally offered to the locals for the last several decades. GSBB pointed out the fall outs from dredging of the rivers that will interfere with nutrient flux and bentho – pelagic coupling in the bay. Huge ecological damage was found to be intrinsic to the  marina project proposal. Further project proponent Umaji Chowgule was not able to furnish details on the carrying capacity of Sancoale Bay for Yatch density and berthing facility. During the meeting a the records in the minutes ‘A member of the Board categorically pointed out that NIO who had carried out the impact study on the said proposal at the site was also engaged for a study on the biodiversity of the Chicalim Bay, NIO in its report had highlighted its rich biological endowment and in particular that this bay was not only a habitat but also a breeding site for the Window Pane Oyster a schedule species as per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.’ After hearing Project Proponent and experts GSBB reached consensus on seven counts before rejecting the Sancoale Marina. It’s worth noting them as they have serious repercussions on coastal fishing communities as follows (a) Far from being ecologically benign, (b) The proposed facility would largely cater to the demands of the elite tourism, (c) The integrity of this habitat would be challenged both during constructional and operational phases, (d) There would be obvious repercussions on the marine biota particularly in the benthic zone and some species with precarious conservation status could be further pressurized and even locally decimated, (e) The traditional livelihood options exercised by the local would cease, displacing the locals culturally, (f) The project will have repercussion of the intertidal and the landward zones, and (g) There is a possibility of inadvertent introduction of invasive species from foreign water.   All the above objections for Sancoale Marina from GSBB are applicable to the Nauxim Marina as well even though GSPCB has not passed on the file of Nauxim Marina to GSBB.

The third point that Tombat communicates is public objection perceived by him: Goa is too small for marina.

It is not the issue is Goa is small or big but the fact stated in EIA that Nauxim marina is basically meant to serve needs of the Luxury tourism. The issue then is should needs of Luxury tourism be allowed to override Goa’s economy destroying all nature based economies? In the present case Draft EIA report on pages 5.9 and 5.10 through Table 5.2 (Coefficient values for impact assessment) and Table 5.3 (Impact quantifications) admits on major permanent long term irreversible negative impact on fisheries of Zuari river with double coefficient of -2. This means fishing in Zuari river will be completely disrupted and fishing communities will be squeezed out of their fishing spaces.

The fourth Point that Tombat makes is danger o fishing by mechanised trawlers: real danger to fishing in Zuari is from mechanised trawlers. It is true and several complains are filed before Goa Fisheries department. However danger from marina is as real as mechanised trawlers and it cannot be ignored as the dangers are confirmed by draft EIA report quoted above at point three response. In addition several complaints are received by Goa fisheries department to cancel the water sports NOC to Aquasail distribution that operate from Hotel Grant Hyatt for disrupting fishing activities near Nauxim where Marina is planned. NOC was revoked for nine months but was restored after political pressure by then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.  Tombat  claims that workers on trawlers release human excreta in waters creating pollution. He however is silent as to why Nauxim Marina will support these very trawlers as recorded in Draft EIA on page 3.15 that reads “Development in the fishing activity as there would be development and maintenance of jetty, market would be available at the door step, availability of fuel for the trawlers shall be easy.” When there is not a single trawler in Nauxim then whose trawlers this marina is going to fuel? This indicate that Marina promoters have entered into under the table deals to support very trawlers that Tombat fiercely criticised so that illegal fishing in Zuari as well as pollution pointed out by Tombat increases. Tombat is also silent on construction of special fishing Jetty for trawlers at MPT who has leased out Zuari waters. Performance budget 2010-2019 of the Directorate of Fisheries on page 61, point 61 (Fishing Berth – MPT) records “An outlay of Rs. 1000.00 lakh is provided towards Other capital Expenditure in the State Budget 2018-19 for construction of fishing berth at MPT, Vasco.” Why do MPT creating facility supported by Goa Government for the trawlers that pollute rivers by open defecation in waters as pointed out by Tombat? Why Tombat is silent on this nexus for pollution of marine waters?

Draft EIA report on Nauxim Marina points out real dangers to Zuari and Mandovi at page 4.24 as follows:

“Zuari is the longest river with second largest basin and Mandovi is the second largest river with largest basin in the state of Goa. The urbanization and Iron ore transfer activities have polluted both the rivers very badly and the water as such is highly polluted. The sewage disposal ito the rivers from habitations have contaminated the rivers with heavily with microbial contamination.

The bilated barges in the Zuari river is found continuing the manganease contamination in the estuarine complex and a heavy metal threat to the marine environment.

The contamination in the Water Environment of the project location is very alarming with both organic and inorganic contamination which requires cleaning or decontamination to preserve and protect the marine diversity of the estuarine complex of both Zuari and Mandovi.” 

EIA report does not mention anything about pollution of Rivers by trawlers that Ashwin Tombat pointed out. This means Draft EIA report is not genuine in its assessment of Goa’s rivers particularly Zuari and Mandovi, or Ashwin Tombat  is not genuine. One of the two has to be the case.

Tombat must introspect that what is claimed above as real dangers for fishing that includes Trawlers, purse seiners, pollution through urban sewage disposal, mining triggered pollution as well as Marina are in vogue due to non-implementation of SSF Guidelines or VG-SSF (Voluntary Guidelines for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security and poverty eradication) signed by 143 countries including India in July 2014. India through Article 54 of the National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017 has called for enforcement of SSF Guidelines. There is great expectation and hope that the enforcement of SSF Guidelines will improve conditions of fisheries that includes health of aquatic ecosystems and human rights of small scale fishers. It is here that efforts of Ashwin Tombat are needed: to criticise everyone for non-implementation of SSF Guidelines. 

The fourth point that Tombat makes is an allegation: Trawler owners are misguided traditional fishermen that marina will affect their livelihood.

If trawler owners have misguided traditional fishermen that marina will affect their livelihood then why proposed Marina at Nauxim supports their trawlers by making fuel easily available as pointed above? It is clear that Tombat has not read the Draft EIA and speaking from his hat rather than head. This is not a healthy practice for a Journalist as it results in proliferation of confusion that blurs quest for truth for sometime as all the people cannot be fooled all the time and truth ‘escapes from the cracks in the wall’ as Rousseau wrote in his ‘Confessions’.

The fifth point that Tombat makes is factual status on Marina at Nauxim: Its true that one lakh square meters of water front will be covered by Marina.

The acceptance of this truth simultaneously means one lakh square meters of water front will be denied for fishing activities. This amount of space will be deepened through dredging by blasting of existing rocks as per draft EIA report. And this will decimate marine life as reported in GSBB report quoted above. And it is not one lakh square meters of water front but minimum one lakh square meters of water front as per draft EIA documents.

The sixth point that Tombat makes is assumption: Marina construction will boost Xinanneos and Calvam harvesting. With rocks blasted off through dredging as guaranteed in Draft EIA report where Calva and Shinanneo to grow? Tombat is ignorant of marine environment required for the growth of the two referred. By the way what about rest of over 185 marine species identified by ICAR studies through collaborative research work with fishing communities of Nauxim, Cacara, Siridao, Bambolim and Odxel?

The seventh point Tombat makes is semi-factual: Marina will affect fishing during construction phase but after completion, in the long term it will cover up all the loss caused.

This claim is contrary to the Draft EIA report as reported above that fishing will have long term irreversible negative impact on fishing activities.

The Eight point Tombat is making is an assertion: Marina at Nauxim will have no impact on Cacra, Odxel and Siridao.

Interview with fishing communities of the villages of Cacra, Odxel, and Siridao reveal that Nauxim river front is their a favorite fishing site. Marina at Nauxim will destroy their fishing based livelihoods.

The ninth point is a question: How is that opponents of Marina has not noticed pollution caused by trawlers to river waters?

Bharat Mukti Morcha as an opponent of Nauxim Marina has filed several objections against trawler operation in Zuari river. Tombat can access these complaints from Goa Fisheries department, Panjim. Trawlers not only cause pollution by oil spill but also dig out river bed and Goa’s own marine ecologists Aaron Lobo has been quoted in our letters pointing to the damage that trawler are carrying on to river bed. Oil spill from water sports boats in Zuari river too has been observed and objected to. Tourism department has written to Goa Fisheries department that it has no hesitation if Fisheries department withdraws NOC granted to water sports boats in rivers for disrupting fishing activities. Draft EIA report on Marina has also indicated release of oil, grease and paints into the waters of Zuari river during Marina operations.

Tenth point is out of context of draft EIA report: Marina sewage from Nauxim will be sent to Panjim at Tonca for effluent treatment. This information is not there in draft Marina EIA report that claims EIA treatment plant construction in Nauxim itself and use of treated waste water for Gardening in Nauxim on 50,000 square meters of land will be reclaimed from Zuari river. Have  Panjim Municipal Corporation permitted use of their facility for Marina facility at Nauxim? Or will Nauxim will be merged with Panjim city to facilitate this?

Eleventh point is prescriptive: Local Representatives of People must negotiate with Marina management and get jobs for locals at Nauxim Marina.

Currently Zuari river through fishing activities provides jobs to local at Nauxim and neighboring coastal villages. Public representatives are doing well in opposing Marinas to retain these jobs. Bambolim Panchayat has opposed Marina, their Gram Sabhas too has opposed, MLA of St. Andre Constituency too in a letter to Goa Chief Minister has conveyed his opposition to Marina citing among other terrorist threat that Goa will face from Nauxim Marina. So Public representatives have not degenerated into brokers that Tombat desires.

Twelfth point of Tombat is a promise: Locals employed will be sent abroad to work on Marina for higher salaries. So this confirms that the jobs offered in Marina will paid low or poorly so that they will require to be sent abroad for higher salaries. These fishing communities has refused to move out anywhere else for employment. Even when India’s shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari offered one trawler on loan for every four families to go to high sea for fishing they refused. And Tombat expects them to leave fishing and join Marina and then join Marina abroad.

Thirteenth point that Tombat makes: Marina is an opportunity that has come walking to them.

Local see Nauxim Marina as an aggression against their fishing economy imposed on them by India’s Ministry of Shipping though Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) who has pushed this Marina only to assert their ownership of Zuari river as per MPT Board meeting annexed with draft EIA report with zero safe guard to fishing communities. In fact in lease agreement with Kargwal Constructions pvt ltd not even existence of fishing activities in Zuari river is mentioned.

Then in conclusion Tombat raises two questions. The first one: What is the reason to object Public Hearing fixed for November 02, 2019?

The environmental governance in India is guided by bullying as proved by the Mopa International Airport hearing and the details the contents of the Judgment of 29^th March 2019 wherein SCI division bench consisting of Justice Dr. Dhannajaya Y. Chandrachud and Justice Hemant Gupta suspended the EC granted on 28^th October 2015 to Mopa Airport by EAC of MoEFCC. Views expressing dissent to Mopa Airport of public in complaints filed and verbal depositions never reached Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and Environmental Clearance was granted. Even people from Nauxim, Cacra, Odxel, Bambolim and Siridao had filed objections against Mopa Airport construction. 

It took enormous amount of effort for Rainbow warriors to challenge the malady at various levels and finally after cutting down over 54,000 trees EC got suspended. All this required tremendous amount of efforts and funds as EAC is proved to be grossly deficient in its functioning as an expert body and decides in favour of corporate interests as proved in this judgment referred as Rainbow Warriors versus Union of India. After knowing the way EAC functions and firm on the determination to oppose Marina at Nauxim call has been given to cancel Public Hearing and stop further process at this moment itself.

Tombat’s second question: If locals want to protect their interests, then shouldn’t locals communicate their interests during Public Hearing?

As replied above it has proved that EAC is biased against Environment as well as local people as per evidence contained in the above cited Judgment relating Mopa airport. Environmental Governance has failed as per the Judgment and Supreme Court of India had to intervene to restore. Even then Central Government Minister Piyush Goyal during his Goa visit in mid October 2019 criticized people and NGOs going to Supreme Court and restoring Environmental governance in India. Goyal even called for a mass movement against individuals and NGOs approaching Courts and restoring environmental governance. First of all it is costly affair to approach the Court and then Central Minister instead of awarding Padma Bhusan to those brave individuals and NGOs who approached Supreme Court of India in Mopa Airport case has called for mass movement against them. This is truly the case of governance by bully that is truly worthy of condemnation. Locals in the context of gross corruption, bullying  and their justifications are far sighted in calling for cancellation of Public Hearing and put an end to the process to grant  Environmental Clearance for which Public Hearing is compulsory.  Example of Croatia cannot be replicated in Goa to satisfy the needs of luxury tourism.

One last observation on Ashwin Tombat’s writings: Silence on joint tagging of villagers of Cacra, Nauxim and Odxel as ‘Shudras’ in draft EIA on page 4.78. Silence on Tombat’s part may mean consent if he doesn’t object and broadcast worldwide just the way he has done in his 27th October 2019 article on Marina at Nauxim. 

A week ago he had written another article on Marina and its linked here. 

Links to the complaints from Bharat Mukti Morcha is here.

Sebastiao Rodrigues

Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa State

Member, National Council, National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (Inland)

Vice-President, Dialogue, Empathic Engagement and Peacebuilding Network (India)