Tuesday 26 October 2021

Increase subsidies for Fishing cannoes

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION  


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206

______________________________________




Date: 22/10/2021



To,  


The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat,

Porvorim, 

Goa




Subject:  Regarding increase in Petrol Subsidies for Fishing cannoes 




Sir,  


Due to rising inflation and increasing cost of living we are constrained to address this petition for your urgent attention with following request: 


1. Petrol subsidies for canoes in Goa be increased from Rs. 51,000/- to Rs. 65,000/-. 


Awaiting your urgent action to increase above cited Petrol Subsidy. 


Thanking you,  


Yours sincerely,





Shaila D'mello

President 




Laximan Mangueshkar,

Secretary





Copy to:  


1. Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 


2. Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale  Fish Workers 

Monday 25 October 2021

Deletion of Goa's six rivers as National Waterways

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION  


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206

______________________________________




Date: 22/10/2021



To,  


Shri Shripad Yesso Naik,

Union Minister of Shipping, National Waterways and Ports

Government of India

Old Goa, 

Goa




Subject:  Regarding deletion of Goa's rivers as National Waterways 25, 27, 68, 71, 88 and 111 by Government of India




Sir, 


We write to you to invite your attention to declaration of six Goa's rivers as National Waterways by Government of India through National Waterways Act 2015. This decision was taking without consulting and prior informing fishing communities dependent upon these rivers (Chapora, Mapusa, Mandovi, Zuari, Cumbharjua and Sal) for our livelihoods. 


We urge you to get Parliament to delete Goa's above cited rivers through Ammendment to National Waterways Act 2015. 


Thanking you,  


Yours sincerely,





Shaila D'mello

President 




Laximan Mangueshkar,

Secretary





Copy to:  


1. Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 


2. Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale  Fish Workers 

Sunday 24 October 2021

Dangerous Consequences of incuding Mormugao Port Trust under Major Port Authorities Act 2021

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION  


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 

______________________________________




Date: 22/10/2021



To,  


Shri Shripad Yesso Naik,

Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from North Goa,

Union Minister of Shipping, National Waterways and Ports

Government of India

Old Goa, 

Goa 


To, 


Shri Fransisco Sardinha,

Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from South Goa, 


To, 


Shri Vinay Tendulkar,

Member of Parliament ( Rajya Sabha) from Goa



Subject: Dangerous consequences for Goa due to inclusion of Mormugao Port under Major Port Authorities Act 2021 


Sir, 


Government of India through an extraordinary issue of Gazette of India (Part II, Section 1) dated February 18, 2021 has published Major Port Authorities Act 2021 after receiving assent of the President of India on February 17, 2021. Passing of this law without consulting Goa's fishing communities and public has posed major dangers to Goa, its fishing based livelihoods and other ramifications because of the following reasons: 


1. Section 1 (3) has has included Mormugao Port where in this law will be made applicable within 90 days of its passing. That means this law will take effect from May 20, 2021. 


2. Section 2(1)(y) has definition of "port limit". Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) has marked several patched inside Goa's rivers as "port limit" there by creating grounds to attract application of Major Port Act, 2021. Definition under section 2 (1) states " Port limit in relation to a major port, means the limits including any piers, jetties, landing places, wharves, quayside, docks and other werks made on behalf of the Public for convenience of traffic, for safety of vessels or for the improvement, maintenance or good governance of the Major Port and its approaches whether within or without high water mark, and subject to any right of private property there in, any portion of the shore or bank within fifty yards of high-water mark and the area of such Major Port as may be determined by the Central Government by way of notification from time to time." 


3. Section 25 empowers Board of each major port covered under this law to prepare it's own master plan "in respect of any development or infrastructure established or proposed to be established with the port limits and the land appurtenant thereto and such master plan shall be independent of any local or State Government regulations of any authority whatsoever : Provided that in case of any conflict between the master plan created by the Board and any local authority, the master plan created by the Board shall prevail." 


4. Section 22(3) states "The Board of each Major Port may erect, construct or build such civil structures for port development or improving commerce and trade in national interest for which no regulatory license or approval from the State authorities shall be required, unless so mandated by the Central Government. " The Panchayats, Municipalities and even Government of Goa is divested of all the decision making powers within port limits which draft CZMP has spread out far and wide needlessly to facilitate notification of port limit by Central government. Even M.L.A roles will become redundant with all the powers concentrating in the hand of Board of Major Port. 


5. Section 23 is dealing with acquisition of land that is known in legal terms as immovable property. This provision states "Where any immovable property is required for the purpose of the Board, the Central Government or as the case may be, the State Government may, at the request of the Board, procure the acquisition thereof under the provisions of Right of Fair Compensation and Transparency Act, 2013 or any other law for the time being in force, and on payment by the Board, the compensation awarded under that Act and of the charged incurred by the Government in connection with the proceedings, the land shall shall vest in the Board". Its land outside the port limit. Land within port limits automatically comes under Board Jurisdiction after central government notification. 


6. Section 21(a) states "The Board of the Major Port Authority shall be the successor of the Board of Trustees constituted under the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963." 


7. Section 75 (1) states "The Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 is hereby repealed." 


8. The Board of Major Port Authority according to Section 3 (1) consists of Chairman, Deputy Chairman, One member each from Concerned State Government, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Defence, and Customs, Department of Revenue. Not less than two and not exceeding four Independent Members. One Member -not below the rank of Director - nominated by the Central Government, ex officio; and two Members representing the interests of the employees of the Major Port Authority." Local Panchayats, Municipalities, MLAs has no powers to appoint Members to the Board of Major Port Authority. 


9. Section 4 (1) States "The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Board shall be appointed by the Central Government on the recommendation of a select committee consisting of such manner, as may be prescribed." There is no transparency as to who and how select committee itself is formed. 


10. Section 3(2) makes Major Port autonomous and allows it to function as a landlord. The provision of this section states "The Board of each Major Port Authority under this Act shall be a permanent body having perpetual succession and a common seal with power, subject to the provisions of this Act, to acquire, hold or dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall by the said name sue or be sued." 


This Law passed in the Parliament of India and assented to by the President of India is draconian and oppressive designed towards Blue grab of Goa's coastal area, riparian area and even the hinterlands. Constitution of India under Article 51-A (g) empowers citizens as a fundamental duty "to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures." Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 is an anti-thesis of above cited Article 51-A(g) as it is designed - besides destruction of political institutions of democracy - ecocide of Goa's ecology by promoting various lethal coastal disruptions as they will be covered up as in "National Interest" as provided under section 22(3). 


In exercise of Fundamental Duty under Article 51-A(g) you are requested to pay attention to points raised above, express your dissent publicly and communicate your views to the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Member of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. For the safety of Goa, its democracy and ecology Mormugao Port must be excluded from the applicability of Major Port Authorities Bill, 2021. People of Goa are not consulted before passing of this draconian law just the way we were not consulted before passing of National Wayetways Act 2016 wherein six rivers of Goa were included as National Waterways. 


Industrialization of Rivers, Industrialization of our Coasts are not Good for us in Goa. Major Port Authorities Act, 2021 is meant to usher in intensification of Industrialization of Goa's coast to facilitate another Ecologically disastrous project named Sagarmala, marinas at Nauxim and Sancoale, coal handling, construction of fresh jetties, double tracking of Railway tracks connecting port, decimation of western Ghats forest at Mollem etc. 


No nation can prosper by destroying the foundation of Economy. Foundation of Economy is ecology. It is in the national interest that Goa's ecology is protected at all costs from Major Port Authorities Act, 2021. 


We call upon you to speak up fearlessly. communicate boldly, articulate clearly and get Parliament of India to go for ammendment to delete Murmagao Port Trust from Major Ports Act 2021. 


Thanking you,  


Yours sincerely,





Shaila D'mello

President 




Laximan Mangueshkar,

Secretary





Copy to:  


1. Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 


2. Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale  Fish Workers 

Saturday 23 October 2021

Petition to Goa MPs on draft Indian Marine Fisheries Bill 2021

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION  


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 

______________________________________




Date: 22/10/2021



To,  


Shri Shripad Yesso Naik,

Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from North Goa,

Union Minister of Shipping, National Waterways and Ports

Government of India

Old Goa, 

Goa 


To, 


Shri Fransisco Sardinha,

Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from South Goa, 


To, 


Shri Vinay Tendulkar,

Member of Parliament ( Rajya Sabha) from Goa



Subject: Regarding withdrawal of Indian Marine Fisheries Bill 2021 


Sir, 


In a rare exhibition of bureaucratic agility the Department of Fisheries of the Government of India in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, had brought in Indian Marine Fisheries Bill 2021 (IMFB 2021) just a few days before the last monsoon session of the Parliament and had been hell bent to pass it in that very session. The bill was supposed to provide a legal instrument to regulate and 

manage marine fishing in the Indian EEZ (200 nautical miles or 370 kilometres) beyond the territorial waters (12 nautical miles or 22 kilometres) and the high seas. Widespread disapproval of both the undemocratic procedure and anti small scale fisheries content of the bill has compelled the Government of India from pushing the bill through the last parliamentary session. But the bill may be put up in the next 

session. 


The IMFB 2021 has been drawn in a totally undemocratic process. Small scale marine fishing communities, by far the largest primary stakeholders, have been completely ignored. They were not even informed that the Government is going to make an Act to regulate and manage their livelihood activity. 



This blatantly violates the minimum constitutional standards and ethical principles (‘nothing about us without us’) for adoption of legislation for any section of citizens. The highhanded procedure has hurt the 

dignity of the fishing communities. The small scale fishing communities disdainfully reject IMFB 2021 because - did not ask for it, did not draft it, were not consulted on it and have not approved it. 


The procedure of making IMFB 2021, in ignoring the governments of coastal states, has violated

the constitutional principle of constructive federalism. 


Moreover, the bill has –

 Failed to reiterate adherence to the overarching principles like subsidiarity, participatory 

governance, gender justice, inter-gnerational equity and precautionary principle enshrined in the National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017; 


 Wrongfully defined ‘Small Scale Fisheries’. All kinds of fishing boats including manual, motorised and mechanised are included in the small-scale fisheries in the present bill. This means that trawlers, purse seiners and other large fishing boats will be treated as small scale. 


This is going to preclude the right of actual small-scale fishers to preferential access to fish resources and other entitlements regarding finance, infrastructure and welfare. 


 Failed to ensure the right of participation of the small-scale fishers in the framing of rules and 

constitution of bodies to be made for the execution of the proposed act which include – Monitoring Control and Surveillance, measures for promotion of livelihoods and socio-economic well-being of traditional and small-scale fishers, Marine Fisheries Development and Management Plans, Marine Fisheries Policy, ‘Consultative Committee’ for policy guidance and adjudication of violations. 


 Failed to provide guidelines for consideration of available resource and capacity of fishing with application of scale subsidiarity in licensing of fishing boats that would ensure control and 

reduction of the number and effort of larger fishing boats to stop over fishing; 


 Failed to provide statutory guidelines for migrant and vessel crew fish workers who are at work on larger vessels and fishing efforts.  The Government of India in the Department of Fisheries is in a hurry to push through the bill because World Trade Organisation (WTO) is threatening to stop all subsidies to and impose sanctions on the IUU (illegal, unregulated and unreported) fishing. Absence of statutory instrument to approve, regulate and 

account for the fishing effort and catch in the Indian EEZ made it fully exposed to the threat of being designated as IUU fishing and face the consequences of WTO sanctions including the fisheries subsidies. 


The threat is imminent as the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies are at their final stage.

It is obvious that not the urge to protect the small scale fishers, but to continue to protect the interests of the large scale fisheries entrepreneurs is behind this hurried drive to bring in the legislation. 


WTO sanctions on the trade and export of fish as well as on the fisheries subsidies are going to hit the large scale fisheries entrepreneurs the most as they are almost the sole, if not the sole, beneficiaries of these. The hidden objective of the Ministry in bringing up the instant legislation is also evident from the fact that they have designated almost all kinds of fishing in the EEZ as small scale glossing over the universally 

recognised distinctions and conflicts between the small scale subsistence fishing and large scale commercial fishing. 


Small scale fishers do not want subsidies; they want to get back their fisheries which have been forcibly taken away by the large scale fishing entrepreneurs with the connivance of the government. 


The small scale marine fishing communities of the country demand – 


 Immediate withdrawal of IMFB 2021; 


 Sincere effort on the part of the Government of India to initiate a process of comprehensive and 

inclusive consultation with the marine fishing communities all around the country’s coast to 

draw a draft bill for managing and regulating marine fishing; 


 Ensure availability of the draft bill in all the languages of Indian coastal fishing communities; 


 Place the bill in the parliament only on approval of the fishing communities and their 

organisations. 


SAVE WATER, SAVE FISH, SAVE FISHER PEOPLE 


Thanking you,  


Yours sincerely,





Shaila D'mello

President 




Laximan Mangueshkar,

Secretary





Copy to:  


1. Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 


2. Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale  Fish Workers 

Friday 22 October 2021

Regarding withrawal of Indian Marine Fisheries Bill

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION  


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 

______________________________________




Date: 22/10/2021



To,  


Dr. Pramod Sawant

Chief Minister of Goa,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim,

Goa 


To, 


Shri Philip Neri Rodrigues,

Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa, 

Goa,



Subject: Regarding withdrawal of Indian Marine Fisheries Bill 2021 


Sir, 


In a rare exhibition of bureaucratic agility the Department of Fisheries of the Government of India in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, had brought in Indian Marine Fisheries Bill 2021 (IMFB 2021) just a few days before the last monsoon session of the Parliament and had been hell bent to pass it in that very session. The bill was supposed to provide a legal instrument to regulate and 

manage marine fishing in the Indian EEZ (200 nautical miles or 370 kilometres) beyond the territorial waters (12 nautical miles or 22 kilometres) and the high seas. Widespread disapproval of both the undemocratic procedure and anti small scale fisheries content of the bill has compelled the Government of India from pushing the bill through the last parliamentary session. But the bill may be put up in the next 

session. 


The IMFB 2021 has been drawn in a totally undemocratic process. Small scale marine fishing communities, by far the largest primary stakeholders, have been completely ignored. They were not even informed that the Government is going to make an Act to regulate and manage their livelihood activity. 



This blatantly violates the minimum constitutional standards and ethical principles (‘nothing about us without us’) for adoption of legislation for any section of citizens. The highhanded procedure has hurt the 

dignity of the fishing communities. The small scale fishing communities disdainfully reject IMFB 2021 because - did not ask for it, did not draft it, were not consulted on it and have not approved it. 


The procedure of making IMFB 2021, in ignoring the governments of coastal states, has violated

the constitutional principle of constructive federalism. 


Moreover, the bill has –

 Failed to reiterate adherence to the overarching principles like subsidiarity, participatory 

governance, gender justice, inter-gnerational equity and precautionary principle enshrined in the National Policy on Marine Fisheries 2017; 


 Wrongfully defined ‘Small Scale Fisheries’. All kinds of fishing boats including manual, motorised and mechanised are included in the small-scale fisheries in the present bill. This means that trawlers, purse seiners and other large fishing boats will be treated as small scale. 


This is going to preclude the right of actual small-scale fishers to preferential access to fish resources and other entitlements regarding finance, infrastructure and welfare. 


 Failed to ensure the right of participation of the small-scale fishers in the framing of rules and 

constitution of bodies to be made for the execution of the proposed act which include – Monitoring Control and Surveillance, measures for promotion of livelihoods and socio-economic well-being of traditional and small-scale fishers, Marine Fisheries Development and Management Plans, Marine Fisheries Policy, ‘Consultative Committee’ for policy guidance and adjudication of violations. 


 Failed to provide guidelines for consideration of available resource and capacity of fishing with application of scale subsidiarity in licensing of fishing boats that would ensure control and 

reduction of the number and effort of larger fishing boats to stop over fishing; 


 Failed to provide statutory guidelines for migrant and vessel crew fish workers who are at work on larger vessels and fishing efforts.  The Government of India in the Department of Fisheries is in a hurry to push through the bill because World Trade Organisation (WTO) is threatening to stop all subsidies to and impose sanctions on the IUU (illegal, unregulated and unreported) fishing. Absence of statutory instrument to approve, regulate and 

account for the fishing effort and catch in the Indian EEZ made it fully exposed to the threat of being designated as IUU fishing and face the consequences of WTO sanctions including the fisheries subsidies. 


The threat is imminent as the WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies are at their final stage.

It is obvious that not the urge to protect the small scale fishers, but to continue to protect the interests of the large scale fisheries entrepreneurs is behind this hurried drive to bring in the legislation. 


WTO sanctions on the trade and export of fish as well as on the fisheries subsidies are going to hit the large scale fisheries entrepreneurs the most as they are almost the sole, if not the sole, beneficiaries of these. The hidden objective of the Ministry in bringing up the instant legislation is also evident from the fact that they have designated almost all kinds of fishing in the EEZ as small scale glossing over the universally 

recognised distinctions and conflicts between the small scale subsistence fishing and large scale commercial fishing. 


Small scale fishers do not want subsidies; they want to get back their fisheries which have been forcibly taken away by the large scale fishing entrepreneurs with the connivance of the government. 


The small scale marine fishing communities of the country demand – 


 Immediate withdrawal of IMFB 2021; 


 Sincere effort on the part of the Government of India to initiate a process of comprehensive and 

inclusive consultation with the marine fishing communities all around the country’s coast to 

draw a draft bill for managing and regulating marine fishing; 


 Ensure availability of the draft bill in all the languages of Indian coastal fishing communities; 


 Place the bill in the parliament only on approval of the fishing communities and their 

organisations. 


SAVE WATER, SAVE FISH, SAVE FISHER PEOPLE 


Thanking you,  


Yours sincerely,





Shaila D'mello

President 




Laximan Mangueshkar,

Secretary





Copy to:  


1. Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 


2. Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale  Fish Workers 

Sunday 26 September 2021

NPSSFW statement in Goa Press

Sebastian Rodrigues, National Council Member of National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers (NPSSFW) issued statement against menancing illegal trawling and purse seine fishing in Zuari river. Navhind Times published the same with some censorship in their daily. Here it is hyperlinked. 

We publish as a matter of historical record uncensored statement that was widely shared and debated on social media as below:
Illegal fishing in zuari with political patronage

Today September 22, 2021 at 4.00 pm eight trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari river at Siridao- Cacra- Odxel stretch. There is also reported daily trawlers and purseiners carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river. Culprits are from Vasco and Agassaim as per the reliable sources. Minister of Fisheries Philip Neri Rodrigues along with several politicians like Michael Lobo are involved promoting and protecting illegal fishing in Zuari river. Director of Fisheries Shamila Monteiro has proved to be useless in discharging her duties. She was once thrown out from the department but consistent lobbying by Olencio Simoes has brought her back in the office to destroy marine life by promoting illegal trawling and purseinig in violation of Fisheries department rules and regulations.

Few days ago Six purse seine boats were caught in the Act of illegal by police and all of them were released after alleged political pressure from Ports Minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo.

All Goa Small Scale Respinsible Fisheries Union had two rounds of discussions with Goa Fisheries Minister. He continues to give same old excuse that there is no staff to operate patrol boat with Fisheries department. 

St. Andre MLA Francis Silveira had publicly called for ban on illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boat owners at specially called public meeting in Bambolim two years ago. He however is keeping silent   that indicate that he is no longer interested protecting interest of small scale fishers in Zuari.

Thursday 16 September 2021

Sanjay Pereira speaks to media on illegal purse seine fishing in Zuari

 Here is online links to Sanjay Pereira interview on illegal fishing in zuari river by purse seine fishin boats from Vasco and Nerul.

Sunday 22 August 2021

When Maggie dived to defend Goa's rivers

Today August 22, 2021 its 83 days since death of Margarida Carmo Silveira. She died on June 01, 2021. On this occasion let's revisit her powerful involvement amongst fishing communities of Goa. Maggie - as she was known - has predominant effective involvement  as the President of Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit was on Vanxim scam in Mandovi River. In 2014 She dived into Zuari river fishing communities after being approached by them through me. 


The principal contradiction that fishing communities using Gillnets in Zuari river faced was introduction of where sports operating from Hotel Grand Hyatt that disrupted gillnet fishing in Zuari river creating sound pollution and cutting away of fishing nets. After studying documentation supplied by fishing communities and close scrutiny of the nature of problem Maggie whole heartedly supported the cause of fishing communities of Zuari river. She began with petitioning the government authorities on the letterhead of Bharat Mukti Morcha as authorized by National President Waman Meshram. One of Maggie's characteristic is that she never got involved with superficial understanding and investigated deeply, thoughroughly, continuesly. 


After effective intervention fishing communities from Odxel, Cacra, Nauxim, Bambolim and Siridao brought the issue of illegal fishing in Zuari river by trawlers. Bharat Mukti Morcha Press Conferences in Panjim began to get organized output of information that drew significant amount of print and electronic media attention. Coverage in mefia began to gradually increase; authorities began to take note of the issues raised by fishing communities of these villages. 


Third major issue that came about is regarding leasing out of over three lakh square meters of land under Zuari river water front to set up two Marinas, one at Nauxim and second one at Sancoale for 30 years. Protest erupted secind time in 2015 and and fishing communities in Nauxim decided to put the banner of Bharat Mukti Morcha as the group that organized the Protest meeting. Maggie not only consented but was there at the Nauxim meeting against Marinas in 2015 and its photograph and reports are available on Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit blog. 


Maggie's observations and interventions were deeply insightful. The way she intervened in the presence of political heavy weights is worth recounting. It was already established that hotel Grand Hyatt in Bambolim is declared illegal by one of the Judgements of Goa Bench of Bombay High Court. At the Nauxim river Bank meeting that was hugely attended by Public and Maggie asked pointed questions to then MLA late Vushnu Wagh and then ex-MLA of St. Andre Cknstituency Francis Silveira. Maggie's question fired at both of them: How did this Hotel Grand Hyatt came about illegally when you'll are MLA and ex-MLA ?  None of them had any answers to Maggie's question fielded at them publicly. Francis Silveira did not answer to her even privately. Vishnu Wagh replied to her after some months after recovery from first heart attack. Wagh told Maggie not exactly about how Hotel Grand Hyatt came up illegal in Bambolim but how Jaydev Modi had set up casino at Hotel Grand Hyatt illegally without his permission and if he had to enjoy good health then he would sit on hunger strike outside the gate of Grand Hyatt. Wagh had meeting with Maggie in his office when he was Deputy speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly. He had promised Maggie to raise the issue of Vanxim scam in the Assembly but did not raise. Maggie was disappointed with him. She told me if Vushnu Wagh had to raise the issue of Vanxim he would have been not only remembered by people but would have had God's blessings on him for speaking out righteously. Few days later Vushnu Wagh's speech went off followed by prolonged sickness and death. 


One must acknowledge that Vushnu Wagh took Objections from Bharat Mukti Morcha on Marinas very seriously and made sure that Maggie participated in protest meeting Nauxim. However he ignored all the letters from Bharat Mukti Morcha regarding illegal fishing in Zuari by trawlers and purse seine fishing boats. We have not understood as why he behaved in this manner. 


While meeting Vishnu Wagh at Goa Legislative Assembly complex Maggie got to hear powerful speech of Fatorda MLA Vijay Sardessai against six Goa rivers being declared as National Waterways. This was how Maggie and I got introduced to the issue of Goa's rivers. When Vijay Sardesai's Goa Forward Party took U-turn and started supporting National Waterways Goa Maggie put Bharat Mukti Morcha to play catalytic role to build up effective resistence. Vishnu Wagh gave tickets of speaker's gallery to Maggie watched Goa State Assembly proceedings first hand. She heard Michael Lobo speaking inside the Assembly saying that Casinos if needs shifting from River Mandovi then they must be given advance notice of five years! From Michael Lobo's speech Maggie realized depth of gambling control over in Goa and how they have captured mouth and brains of Goa Legislators. From this incident Maggie refrained from any contacts with Michael Lobo for she had earlier called him up to support opposition to Marinas in Zuari. And Michael Lobo had supported her but few years later on he desired Marina in Nauxim to be shifted to Calangute! 


Maggie's involvement not only stretched from her Vanxim island Mandovi to Zuari but had direct confrontational engagement with neighboring Divar Island. She smelled something sinister over the way nearly 10 crores were sanctioned by agriculture department spent to build bunds around Divar near Sao Pedro Ribandar Ferry Jetty without permission from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority. Traditional Sluice gates were destroyed. When Maggie objected hell broke loose. Contractor came at her residence at night to plead not to block and promised her that sluice gates will be restored to the original. Till date this promise has not been realized and contractor is not to be seen anywhere. Maggie was served with threats via then Vanxim panch Greta Vaz of violence against her for involvement in Divar. Nelson Azavedo from Communidade had meeting with Maggie and told her that India's CRZ laws are not applicable to Divar Island communidade land. Then Goltim Sarpanch Prasad Harmalkar phoned Maggie while she approached Agriculture department in Panjim and told her not to stop the work of bund in Divar as he worked hard for many years to get sanctioned. Agriculture department had no permission from GCZMA to interfere with bunds in Divar and Maggie found it was totally and completely illegal. 


Maggie was suspecting that the way bund Divar are being reshaped in order to create access benefit Subhakar Rao and his water aggression fake fishing venture known as Champions Island rather than benefiting farmers. Maggie did not get necessary support from people of Divar except from few handful like Roque Menezes and Tomas Rodrigues and she felt disappointed. However the issues she uncovered in the process are valuable and needs serious thought and action. 


Divar Island is being attempted to be taken over by World Bank according to Some sources. They want fortified embankment around entire island and want to set up fire station on island beside bridge. 


Maggie fought valiantly and she was single minded in her attacks against former defense Minister of India who attempted to publicly defend declaration of Goa's six rivers as National Waterways. She co-ordinated smoothly with several people including Sadanand Vaigankar who published full fledged criticism against declaration of Goa's rivers as National Waterways in his print magazine. 


While Maggie was active in Goa information somehow got disseminated far and wide. Pradip Chaterjee contacted, then visited Goa and Maggie played important role as a national council member, National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers. She visited Delhi and Kolkata before the Pandemic to participate in key workshops and decision making process. 


Formation of All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union is a fruit of Maggie's abilities for team work. We need to strengthen this Union as it has very important role to play being the Frontline stewards of the Sea. 


It is difficult for any one to take Maggie's place in terms of her depth and steadfast commitment to fishing communities. Yet the path that she left traced is full of daring legacy for us to pick up courage and move ahead even though we swim against the tide and hurdles are many. But ahead we must go for staying silent and numb is suicidal and stagnating. 


Fishing as a food is facing enormous challenges today. Government of India is determined to enact Fisheries law that is non-transparant and hostile to ecology and small scale traditional fishing communities in India. 


Beyond fishing, Government is also trying to introduce food fortification for nutritious food to fulfill wishes of global tyrants.  Time has come to stay in grace and rebel. Are we going to face this challenge? Certainly together we will! 


God Bless Us All!

Sebastian Rodrigues.

Thursday 12 August 2021

Objections to ongoing illegal purse seine and trwling in Zuari river

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION 



190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 Mobile: 8805074643 



______________________________________




Date: 11/08/2021



To, 



The Director, 


Department of Fisheries, 


Panjim, Goa




Subject: Objections to ongoing illegal purse seine and trawling in Zuari river




Madam, 



There are repeated instances of illegal fishing in Zuari River from 08/08/2021. Around 35 purse seine fishing boats carried illegal fishing on 08/08/2021 for several hours from early morning to afternoon. 


Today besides purse seine fishing boats there are four trawlers inside the river carrying the illegal fishing from early morning to afternoon. On reporting this matter to control room over the phone of the Fisheries department response given today morning is that our information is wrong and we are objecting without basis. 


You are therefore requested to check if the staff attending Fisheries control is on the payroll of those carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari River and initiate action against those irresponsible. 


You are advised to take immidiate and effective appropriate action against those using purse seine and trawling fishing nets in Zuari river as they are destructive fishing gears for rivers and banned by law within 5 km from the shore.



Thanking you, 



Yours sincerely,





Roque Menezes 



President 





Copy to:  


Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers 

Thursday 29 July 2021

Objections to finalization of Coastal Management Plan without preparing comprehensive plan for fishermen communities

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION 



190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 Mobile: 8805074643 



______________________________________




Date: 14/07/2021 



To, 



The Member Secretary,


Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority,


Panjim, Goa


Email: goacoastalzone@gmail.com




Subject: Objections to finalization of Coastal Management Plan for Goa without prepararing comprehensive plan for fishermen communities




Sir, 



We call upon your office to let you know that the Public Hearing on draft Coastal Management Plan held at your behest in North as well as South Goa on July 08, 2021 was without enforcing the Order no. GCZMA/GEN/MISC/13-14/Part VI/1445 issued by department of Environment and Climate change dated 04/03/2021 calling for comprehensive plan for fishermen community living in CRZ area in collaboration with Goa Fisheries Department. Non-implimentation of this order was confirmed to us by the Director of Fisheries department as no required survey was carried on northern bank of Zuari river nor any banks of Mandovi River due to prevailing restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic. 



As a result of non-enforcement of the above order several issues pertaining to fishing communities all over Goa has remained without being attended to for the inclusion in the Coastal Management Plan for Goa. We wish to list out the following points for inclusion in the Coastal Management Plan: 



1. All the residential houses and fish landing sites of the fishing communities living within CRZ has remained without being surveyed and included in the draft Coastal Management Plan. This is true across Goa like Vitogem and Sinquerim in Diwar Island, Ribandar, Vanxim (Capao), Cacra, Odxel, Nauxim, Bambolim, Siridao, Marvel, Caranzalem, Goltim-Navelim, Naroa- Sao Mathias etc. 



2. The inputs provided by the Coastal communities to your office through maps are not included in the draft plan. It resembles as if enemies of Goa's Coastal people has prepared this drafy report. 



3. More dangerously several Coastal areas,  beaches, rivers, riparian lands are shown as Port Limits. This is true in case of rivers Sal, Mandovi and Zuari too. These rivers - heavily used for fishing by small scale fishing communities - were declared as National Waterways by Government of India without consulting fishing communities of Goa thereby making complete and thorough mockery of Democracy in India. We are completely opposed to demarcation of Goa's rivers and beaches, Coastal lands and riparian lands as Port Limits. If Port namely Murmagao Port Trust (MPT) cannot function in its existing limits in Vasco then et it fold up its operations and return its assets to people of Goa rather than turning itself into monstrous bully that intent to swallow large portions of  Coastal Goa and its rivers. Aggression over Goa by India's Ministry of Shipping, Ports and National Waterways that controls MPT must stop. Your office claims to have taken decision to drop Port Limits but they are still showing on her Maps of draft Coastal Management Plan. 



4. Draft Goa Coastal Management Plan does not adequately mark fish breeding sites. Zuari as well as Mandovi rivers are fish breeding sites and has to be declared as such. 



5. Plan to safeguard fish breeding sites in Goa must also be incorporated in Coastal Management Plan. Plan must include measures to eliminate dumping of plastic garbage in rivers, reviving and rejuvenating fish breeding sites that has suffered due to political decisions to locate off shore casinos in Mandovi River,  stop speedboats and yachts in Mandovi River at Diwar Island introduced  by cutting down Mangroves and digging riverbed destroying rich marine spaces known for big black and white Shells (Khube) as well as small Shells (Khubli) for the benefit of private company named Champions Island for its clandestine activities, Demolishing of all the concrete bunds in Diwar - as they leak and disrupt fish breeding process specially of the crabs - and replacing them with traditional mud bunds of locking system for tidal waters that facilitates fish breeding as crabs use bund mud for breeding purposes, plan must also demarcated spaces for fishing practices like Footauni, Hari, Gillnets, Stakes etc. 



6. In this regard People of Vitogem and Sinquerim which are fishing communities wards on Divar Island had already made their representation to Director of Fisheries in a letter dated 21/10/2020 given entry to the Fisheries department on 22/10/2020. Fisheries department was to forward it to your office. 



7. Comprehensive Plan for fishermen communities initiated by Director of Environment and Climate Change must be completed, shared with Coastal fishing communities for ground truthing and then synchronized with Goa Coastal Management Plan before finalization. 



We request you to include all the above points in Coastal Management Plan for Goa. 



We also wish to let you know that in case you failed to include the above points then we shall be constrainted to reject the Coastal Management Plan itself. 



Thanking you, 



Yours sincerely,





Roque Menezes 



President 





Copy to: 



1. Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Panjim, Goa 



2. Director, Department of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 



3. Convenor, National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers 

Friday 2 July 2021

Objections to two Public Hearings on Coastal Management Plan for July 08, 2021

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION 


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 Mobile: 8805074643 


______________________________________



Date: 02/07/2021 


To, 


The Member Secretary,

Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority,

Panjim, Goa

Email: goacoastalzone@gmail.com



Subject: Objections to two Public Hearings fixed for July 08, 2021 on Coastal Management Plan.



Sir, 


We call upon your office to let you know that certain conditions laid in your notification reference GCZMA/CZMP-2011/20-21/01/201 dated 07/06/2021 are highly objectionable.  We list them out as under: 


1. Time limit slotted to per speaker of 15 minutes is not sufficient. Each speaker must be given at least one hour to complete their submissions. No speaker must be pressurized to hurry. 


2. Forfeiting of the time slot in case speaker is not able to at fixed slot. We object this process and hold strong that those who are not able to speak at the fixed slot must be accommodated later on. 


3. Forbidding of political criticism by the speakers is highly objectionable. We strongly hold that your above referred notification is in violation of fundamental right of Freedom of Speech and expression in the Constitution of India enshrined under Article 19. We hold that preparation of Coastal Zone Management Plan is primary a political process masked as technical. We call upon you to revoke this condition immediately and issue fresh notification allowing political criticism. Otherwise public participation is a futile exercise and we consider it assault on Constitution of India. 


4. Public Hearing must not go on after 7.00 pm. Your notification that Public Hearing to continue till completion of the process is objectionable. We object continuation of Public Hearing beyond 7.00 pm. If speakers are remaining then Public Hearing must be resumed next working day. 


5. Spot entries upto 2.00 pm are objectionable as it creates undue pressure. We strongly object and advise you to drop this condition and allow spot entries throughout the day. 


6. The above notification to hold Public Hearing is issued without enforcing the Order no. GCZMA/GEN/MISC/13-14/Part VI/1445 issued by department of Environment and Climate change dated 04/03/2021 calling for comprehensive plan for fishermen community living in CRZ area. Non-imimentation of this order was confirmed to us as no required survey was carried on northern bank of Zuari river. Our inquiries has revealed that survey was not undertaken due to prevailing restrictions due to Covid-19 pandemic. We request your office to report this situation to the National Green Tribunal and get the Public Hearing deferred till the referred survey is conducted and report made available in public domain. 


Overall we conclude that all the above mentioned processes included for Public Hearing are meant to exclude Public being heard. The consequences of this style of operation is satanic, cruel, perverse work of crooks that will have short term as well long term unpredictable negative effects for which your office will be held accountable and responsible. 


We advise you to pay serious attention to the above points and call off both the Public Hearings fixed for July 08, 2021 in North as well as South Goa. 


Thanking you, 


Yours sincerely,





Laximan Mangueshkar 


Secretary




Copy to: 


1. Director, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Panjim, Goa 


2. Director, Department of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa 


3. Collector, North Goa, Panjim, Goa 


4. Collector, South Goa, Margao, Goa

Friday 25 June 2021

Monsoon Fishing ban violations by trawlers

 June 25, 2021



To,



Director,


Department of Fisheries, 


Government of Goa,


Panaji, Goa



Subject: Monsoon Fishing ban violations by trawlers



Madam,



It has come to our attention that daily trawlers are carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari river during night time due to the negligence of your office in Patrolling.



On June 23, 2021 night one trawler got entangled with underwater sunk ship while trawling at night time in Zuari river. Four other trawlers that were operating from Vasco were stranded in rescue operation to free the entangled trawler. Next day June 24, 2021 this incident was shared by audio on WhatsApp by former vice-president of Old Cross Fishing Co-operative society at Kharewada Prem Dabolkar under Article 19 of the Constitution of India: Right to Freedom of Speech and expression.



However it has come to attention that one trawler owner Tulsidas Kukalkar who owns 'Netra' trawler and notorious record holder for illegal fishing damaged electricity and water connection of Prem Dhabolkar at Vasco. We had complained to your office about Tulsidas Kukalkar' illegal trawling in Zuari river in the past but there is no action from your office that we know of.



We want to convey to you that because of inaction from your office Fisheries in Goa are getting criminal fall outs.



With hope that you will act,



Yours sincerely,





Roque Menezes


President


All Goa smalll scale Resoonsible Fisheries Union


190, Nauxim, Bambolim, Goa.


For media report on this subject click here.

.

Tuesday 25 May 2021

Objections to registration of purse seine fishing nets and registration of cannoes above 38 ft.

 ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION


190, Nauxi, Bambolim, Tiswadi, Goa. 403 206 


______________________________________



Date: 24/05/2021


To,


The Director,

Department of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Panjim, Goa



Subject: Objections to registration of purse seine fishing nets and registration of canoes above 38 ft



Madam,


It has come to our attention that your office is planning to register purse seine fishing net and above 38 ft canoes through Supritendent of Fisheries letter no. DF/ENF/GRE-/2021-22/503 dated 05/05/2021.


Your office is petitioned several times by different groups such as Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit from 2014 over the issue of illegal fishing in Zuari river. It has been our experience that inspite of purse seine fishing nets being outlawed within 5 kms from the shore they continues doing so without fear and respect for law in canoes below 38 ft. Your office as well as coastal security police has failed to enforce law and as a result violations since 2014 are rampant.


Your office has poor record of enforcement in cases of violations by existing fleet of canoes below 38 ft using purse seine fishing nets is not only poor but in collaboration with purse seiners and coastal security police has promoted criminal litigations against those like Sanjay Pereira who has been consistently communicating to your office about the prevailing illegalities in Zuari river by purse seine fishing boats. Your office has supported false criminal cases by delegating your Fisheries officials as witnesses at Judicial Magistrate Senior devision at Vasco and Court of Deputy Collector, Vasco. Fisheries Minister Philip Neri Rodrigues is sleeping over the file to withdraw these criminal cases from the time he too charge as Fisheries Minister few years ago.


We object on both counts, namely increasing the size of canoes exceeding 38 ft as well permitting use of purse seine fishing nets. Their high powered intrusions towards illegal fishing within 5 kms from the coast will deplete Fisheries as well as disrupt livelihood systems of traditional fishing communities indulging in small Scale Fisheries through passive fishing gears such as gill nets predominantly used in Zuari river. Fisheries department as well as Coastal Security Police lacks adequate number patrol boats and even existing ones cannot be maintained as evident from constant breakdowns. Fisheries department has just one patrol boat for the entire State of Goa without 24×7 service. Coastal Security Police has just two patrol boats that are reported in non-working conditions on several occasions by Coastal Security Police station at Harbour, Vasco. Checking illegal fishing by purse seine fishers has not surfaced as yet as a priority of Fisheries department as well ad Coastal security police. Purse seiners has carried on illegal fishing even during monsoon fishing ban period. The foundation of purse seine fishing is greed and violence. 


Purse seine fishing is proved and known to cause remarkable depletion of fish life due to its exploitative nature of fishing dealing body blow to marine ecology as several non-target species are trapped as by-catch facilitated by technology such as fish finders on board.


Late Mathany Saldanha, the champion defender of marine ecology as well small scale Fisheries in India who played key role in formation of GRE always opposed purse seine fishers due to their destructive role particularly towards traditional fishermen who are engaged in small Scale Fishery. We fail to understand as to how how GRE that late Mathany Saldanha founded is championing the cause of purse seine fishers in Goa as evident from the above quoted reference number of the Superitendent of Fisheries letter dated 05/05/2021. This is a terrible betrayal of the small Scale Fisheries in Goa.


We oppose the above referred proposal of the Department of Fisheries to register canoes above 38 ft as well as permissions for purse seine fishing nets as their impact will be felt by small scale fishers within 5 kms from the coast due to Coastal Security Police and Department of Fisheries constantly collides with those engaging in illegal fishing in Zuari river. Best example that can be cited is that of Tulsidas Kukalkar who daily with his fleet of trawlers including infamous "Netra" is carrying on daily illegal fishing in Zuari between 7.30 pm to 3.00 am.


Therefore we conclude that your move to permit canoes above 38 ft and purse seine fishing nets is not only detrimental to the interest of the small scale fishers in Goa but is also harmful for marine ecology with its large by-catch of non-target species -even tiny in size - that is either discarded as dead fish waste or used as fertilizer.


You are hereby advised to refrain from permitting canoes above 38 ft and purse Seine fishing nets. You must instead identify and discourage use of purse seine fishing nets. We have learned that size of canoes are to be increased upto 70 ft fitted with purse seine fishing nets. Just imagine how quickly such a decision will destroy not only marine Fisheries but also intensify illegal fishing within 5 kms thereby causing rapid destruction of small scale fisheries. 


By the way who gave your office and GRE this destructive idea? It is symptom of intellectual bankruptcy.  Beware! We are opposed to your plan for above cited reasons and will continue to speak up and articulate in defence of fisheries sustainability in the face of predatory purse Seiners. 


You are therefore advised to reconsider your plans and then communicate to all the concerned before arriving at the disastrous decision to increase the size of canoes and legalization of purse seine fishing.


Instead of increasing the size of existing canoes allow more smaller canoes with gill nets whose applications are pending and kept on hold citing the Scientific reasons of sustainability of Fisheries. How does sustainability of marine ecology is facilitated by increasing the size of canoe to above 38 ft and by permitting purse seine fishing nets? What are the studies your office has received from GRE to suggest such a sinister plans? What horse power engine will be fitted to the canoes above 38 ft ranging upto 70 ft? Fish is great source of nutrition to society, should you take decision that will push Goa's fisheries towards dead path? It will be awful if you commit such a blunder.


Without regrets, we are opposed to increasing size of existing canoes above 38 ft and promotion of purse seine fishing nets by your office.


Thanking you,


Yours sincerely,





Roque Menezes


President





Laximan Mangueshkar


Secretary 

Thursday 7 January 2021

BMM condemns Police violence on Melaulim villagers

Pramod Sawant step down as Chief Minister of Goa


Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM), Goa Unit strongly condemn second consecutive day police terror inflicted on Melaulim villagers in Sattari Taluka. On second day yesterday January 06, 2021 over 350 police personnel descended in the village along with Valpoi Police Inspector, Mamlatdar and Deputy Collector to overpower the psychological will power by physically threatening them. As per media reports Police used tear gas and Lathi charged the villagers after walking over women's bodies (Chests and legs) as they were lying on ground to protect themselves from the impact of Lathi charge. Several villagers as well as policemen and policewomen were injured during the day in the forest village.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is being sort to set up in the village in the bossom of western Ghats forest. Villagers are in defence of the forest while the State government under direction from Central government pushing for deforestation and urbanisation through setting up of IIT campus.

BMM stands in support of the villagers for their wisdom and commitment to defend Western Ghats forest is far more superior to any IIT faculty in India. BMM further condemns arrogant assertion of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during the day that State will book the villagers under criminal provisions for Attempt to Murder police. In the beginning the matter is educational involving IIT and police has no role to play in the matter. It appears from the day's proceedings that governance is being carried on through violence and terror on people as well as western Ghats ecology. Chief Minister's  comments are evidence to this point. First the police force is abused. Now, Indian Penal Code is abused. The way people were treated today were like cattle, ruthless and inhuman ways by police at the orders of their political masters. Goa government is not satisfied with democratic mechanisms to deal with conflict resolutions is rapidly turning into bloodthirsty aiming at violence of the type that martyred Nilesh Naik during Nylon 6,6 agitation of 1995.

Pramod Sawant should be ashamed of deploying the police at Melaulim village. It looks that he has lost all his stamina to imbibe with the Values of the Constitution of India. The way he is conducting himself it looks very intense that he has no values for human beings. The people of Melaulim village are our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers etc. PI Ekoskar has shown today that he is born motherless (no one knows who is his mother). He must apologize for walking over the ladies chests and legs. And what Pramod Sawant says about attempt to murder police personnel is highly manipulative act even to think so by the CM of Goa. This CM has experience to abuse governance in the State of Goa in order to inflict harm to people as well as ecology of Goa as reflected in several instances, latest being Melaulim. There are more personalities from within Goa who are well equipped to give us good governance. We hereby call upon Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to resign.

When human beings are not valued and respected by the one occupying position of Chief Minister he has no right to continue in the office.

Viswajit Rane is playing hide-n-seek game inspite of being MLA of the said village (Melaulim). He should have stood in solidarity as representative of the people but he has betrayed the people and is enforcing inhuman behavior to attack the people by deploying police. He has Portfolio as Health Minister of Goa but here for the villagers he is perceived as land grabbing mafia. After grabbing so much land -acres and acres- he is still not satisfied. It looks as Goa Government has some vested interest in locating IIT in Melaulim, Sattari against the wishes of the villagers. 

India's central government has its eyes on beautiful land of Goa to set up IIT on 10 lakh square meters of land in Melaulim village that too by causing deforestation of western Ghats. People of Goa will stand united to see that Melaulim village is protected from such manipulators.

Maggie Silveira
President

07:01:2021
01:25 am

Wednesday 6 January 2021

BMM condemns Police abuse to terrorise Melaulim villagers

 Calls for Chief Minister's resignation


Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM), Goa Unit strongly condemns repeated use of police force to suppress democratic protests in the State of Goa. People are guaranteed Freedom under the Constitution of India and repeated use of police to settle political scores is a mockery of democratic polity in the State of Goa. Latest use of police personnel numbering to over 550 in Melaulim village in Sattari on Januari 05, 2021 gave impression of razing war between the State and the Police.

If people of Melaulim doesn't want to part with their land admeasuring 10 lakh square meters to set up Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) it cannot be forced upon by deploying police force. IIT has been denied land by people in two earlier instances. People in Goa have fundamental right to reject whatever they consider as undesirable and moreover a scam. Educational Institutions like IIT has to set up by consulting the affected people and under no circumstances it can be bulldozed through police force. BMM calls upon the Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane to listen to the voice of Melaulim People and strike out the IIT like it was done on earlier two occasions.

BMM expresses support and solidarity with the people of Melaulim and calls upon Government of Goa to stop terrorizing people by use of Police and violence. 

The police are meant to maintain law and order and this is what their services are. We people of Goa knows every detail of work carried on by the corporates which they do by force. The democracy tells us to do what is right and truthful and we as Goans will stand by the People of Goa anywhere such disruptions of law and order are carried on by Police under political directions. BMM condemns the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and calls upon him to resign as he is not meant and fit to serve the people of Goa anymore. Vishwajit Rane should protect Goa as a Goan. Such menaces and disasters will not be tolerated in Goa any more. Be aware Mr. Chief Minister that where unity prevails success flows like a river. This is what Goans are known for. BMM strongly opposes developments which are against People of Goa.

Maggie Silveira
President

06:01:2021
2:12 am