State- Trawler nexus to destroyed Goa's fisheries

It has just come to our attention the following:

1. Five trawlers are carrying on illegal trawling in Zuari river today December 30, 2023 from 8.30 pm by switching off their lights.

2. The complaint is lodged with control room of the Fisheries department over the phone. 

3. Response from Fisheries Control room is of helplessness to do anything as there is no staff available to take the patrol boat from Panjim Jetty to Zuari river.

4. All the above indicate that there is match fixing between trawlers engaged in illegal night fishing and the Fisheries administration: nexus of corruption. 

5. Fisheries Minister of Goa is found to be incompetent to deal with the illegal trawling even in Zuari river most probable due to hefty bribes that Fisheries department receives. 

6. All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union calls for complete overhauling of Fisheries administration in Goa in the light of trawler loot of Zuari for over one month that both destroys marine ecology and deprives small scale fishers of their livelihood support system based on fishing.

When Journalism turns corporate propaganda machine: Praveen Sharna case on Nauxim Marina

 When Journalism turns Corporate Propoganda machinery...

https://www.gomantaktimes.com/opinion/a-marina-could-set-sail-goas-economic-prosperity

There is expansion in the PR team of Kargwal Constructions Private Limited from Mumbai. Latest product of consent manufacturing factory from Mumbai Gomantak group of Publications has featured Praveena Sharma. 

So far known PR team included Ashwin Tombat, Raju Nayak, Dr. Pramod Sawant, Shrinivas Dempo all harping in Marina economy in Croatia in Europe!

Sharma in 29 December 2023 Publication makes spirited attempt at advocacy of destructive AHOY Marina at Nauxim, Goa.

EIA Report of this marina has clearly stated that there is going to be major long term irreversible negative impact on Fisheries in Zuari river and yet these characters are still engaged in propaganda with all the Gomantaks - English, Marathi and TV channel making multi-pronged corporate driven, anti-fishing  propaganda.

Now Sharma article expands Goa's coastline by 55 kms from existing 105 kms to 160 kms without detailing geography of expanded coastline. Or possible Sharma just care a damn to accuracy in journalism. Its okay for propaganda work. If black crow is called red crow thousand times sufficient confusion will set in to actually consider black crow as red crow!

Article also rues over the hordes of budget tourists entering Goa and luxury hotels are facing economic crunch as room occupancy levels has dropped. So instead of advocating shutting down of luxury hotels article advocates destruction of Zuari river fishery by installing necessary infrastructure inside the Zuari river. 

Tourism has already destroyed Goa's coast, de facto privatized beaches like Marriots at Miramar, violated coastal Regulation zones like Hotel Grand Hyatt, Released its sewage underground pipelines in the rivers like Hotel Devaaya at Divar Island, Blocked fishing spaces like Casinos in Mandovi River, Destroyed sand dunes like Leela Kempensky at Cavelosim and you can expand the list further. 

AHOY Marina EIA Report has classified local villagers in Nauxim, Cacra and Odxel as "Shudras" which means slaves. Sharma is silent on these aspects and we don't know why though.

Tourism in its worst destructive mode over the past four decades is seeking to expand its destructive tentacles directly in the waters and expel fishing communities from their livelihood support system.

For all the characters named above only two things matter. First is profit. Second is imposing of caste based discrimination to promote social, political, economic, educational and cultural exploitation. 

Sharma narrative is one more addition to this and fit to be thrashed or displayed in Hall of Shame!

Clues to adress social stigma on fishing communities in Goa

Douay Rheims Bible. Matthew 4:18-22

[18]And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers).

[19]And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

[20]And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him.

[21]And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them.

[22]And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him.

This is the story of James and Jebedee, story of Andrew and Peter. Four fishermen busy in fishing.

Jesus went to them at their place of work and called them to be the fishers of men.

Do we approach fishermen at work with nets the waters?

What is our relationship with fishermen of our times?

Do we trust fishermen? Or do we look at them with contempt?

What are the feelings of our heart when we think of fishermen and their families? They are dirty? Children of lesser God?

Do we treasure dignity for those doing fish work? Or do we stigmatize the fishing communities?

How deep rooted are the  bias against fishing communities in our thoughts and deeds?

Jesus trusted fishing communities to the extreme of giving keys of Heaven in the hands of a fisherman. What is our level of trust?

How comfortable are we to share genuine friendship with fishing communities of Goa?

What are the hesitations we experience in our thoughts while accepting fishing communities as worthy members in our family?

Do we treasure hatred and bias against fishing communities?

Will you trust leadership roles to fishing communities  like Jesus did?

How comfortable are you to accept person from fishing community into your inner circle of friends?

Can fishermen be your friend?

This is a test of our conscience. You will know the status only if you answer the above questions with sincerity.

"Kharvi - the Fishers" superb film by Loretti Pinto

The short five minutes video film "Kharvi - Fishers" provides glimpse into changing dynamics of Goa's Zuari river. 

https://youtu.be/ynaABJ5NZ7g?feature=shared

Film by Loretti Pinto explores depth of the fishers of Nauxim ( reffered as Nauxe in the film) village with sweeping historical narrative with fishermen from 1950s till present times in 2023 as first hand narrators of personal life stories. 

This film is with a difference in a sense that no experts are speaking in the film about fishing communities. Fishers themselves are presented as story tellers of their lives. In this sense film scores an edge in just one second less than five minutes. The film has English sub-titles and is accessible to wider audience across the world.

The Film was first screened on December 08, 2023 at an International workshop organised at Sancoale, Goa by BITS Pilani Goa campus and University of Witwatersrand, Johanasberg, South Africa as one part of presentation of paper titled "From livelihoods to sustainability: navigating small scale fishers' journey from victim to catalyst of change in Goa" jointly authored by Sebastiao Anthony Rodrigues, Lorette Joyce Pinto and Glenis Maria Mendonça. 

This presentation was done in the presence of four fishers of Zuari river in Goa, India namely Sanjay Faterpekar, Laximan Mangueshkar, Sanjay Kankonkar and Shekar Kuttikar who also participated in this international workshop. 

This film is made available online from today December 25, 2023 for pedagogical reasons that further ideas may flow from the collective intellectual engagement with fishing communities in Goa. Below is link to "Kharvi - the fishers"

https://youtu.be/ynaABJ5NZ7g?feature=shared

Do watch and organised its public sharing and public discussions. 

We place out gratitude to Loretti Pinto for her remarkable contribution. We wish her and her family blessed Christmas!

Goa Government is toothless to tackle cellular radiation

It is now clear...

It is now clear that without radiation measuring mechanism installation of mobile towers is wrong yet it is done. 

It's now clear that Directorate Health Services has no facilities to monitor radiation emitting from mobile towers anywhere in Goa as per reply of Dr. Atul Pai Bir, Medical Officer at CHC, Sankhali, Goa dated 16/10/2023 letter no. CSCS/HS/2023-24/2222.

It is also clear from plethora of studies available that mobile tower radiation has dangerous impacts on life including Human life.

It is also clear that State Government cares a hoot about radiation impacts on human life or any other life forms as there is no mechanism in place for radiation monitoring.

It is clear that this situation has come about because State government in Goa has totally come under control of the cellular industry that is dictating State policies dealing with Telecom issues and it's regular ammendments through behind-the-scene lobbying.

It is also clear that this stanglehold of cellular industry on the democratic institutions of Governance in Goa can be freed only through direct peoples assertions and activation of available public spaces and creation of new public spaces.

It is also clear that such spaces can be created and existing ones can be activated most vibrantly through direct face-to-face study meetings at least once a month with discipline. 

Let me know if anyone can volunteer time for for this purpose we can start off the process tackling Cellular industry in organised manner through activation of public spaces and creation of new spaces of dialogues on radiation in a small way to begin with.

Awaiting your response. 

Sebastian Rodrigues

9923336347

Illegal trawl fishing yet again!

Today December 19, 2023 from 10.00 pm 06 trawlers are carrying in illegal bottom trawling fishing in Zuari river from Siridao to Odxel withing two kilometers from the coastline. 

Fisheries Control has been informed but no action has come through so far.

Corruption in the Fisheries department in Goa has prevented effective patrolling system of Goa's coastal waters specially Zuari river.

Fisheries administration looks paralyzed and incapable of any effective action. Major overhaul is needed urgently.

Goa Fisheries Minister promotes fishing black economy?

 Goa Fisheries Minister promotes black economy with standardized bribes from Trawlers?

According to just received information at 9.30 pm today December 14, 2023 five trawlers are carrying illegal fishing between Odxel and Dona Paula Coast. Last night they were at Nauxim-Cacra Coast plundering Zuari river.

According to the information received Fisheries Minister has accepted Rs.25,000/- from each trawler to allow illegal fishing. This works to 05 Crore rupees for 200 trawlers alone. 

Fisheries Minister has started parallel black economy in Goa to destroy Marine ecology and livelihood of legally permitted small scale fishers in Coastal waters.

Fisheries Minister sure must be sharing the bribe kitty with his political bosses. Time to kick him out has arrived!

Fisheries Control has already been informed but it is controlled by the super corrupt political dispensation in place.

Sharing of this message is advisable.

Illegal trawling in Zuari river again!

According to just received reports fours trawlers are carrying on illegal fishing in Zuari River right now on December 12, 2023 at 8.50 pm at Nauxi-Cacra coast.

Phone calls to the Fisheries Control room has turned futile as they went without answering. We are not sure exact amount of bribe received by various officers of Fisheries department including Goa Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar do this as to trigger collapse Zuari river gillnet fishery being protected by traditional small scale fishers in their capacity as stewards of the Sea.

Call up and register your complaint too with Goa Fisheries control room now at 08322425263.

What does it take for a successful defence of Marine eco-system?

What does it takes for a successful defence of a marine ecosystem: a view through the Window panes oyster lenses as it is schedule I specie in India classified under Wildlife Protect Act

Case of Goa's Zuari estuary connecting Arabian Sea

1. Detection of threats to ecosystems

Example leasing out of 2 lakh square meters of water territory to private companies by government of India for two Marinas- Nauxim and Sancoale in October 2010 for 30 years (upto 2040)

2. Shouldering of long term responsibility for resistence. Example Adv. Suresh Palkar who shouldered responsibility for 13 years

3. Formation of team of fishers with intimate understanding of Marine ecosystems. Example Bharat Mukti Morcha 

4. Good State Environment Minister. Example Alina Saldanha

5. Good Goa State Bio-diversity Board leadership. Example Prof. Nitin Sawant

6. Good local Political leadership Late Vishnu Wagh and current legislator of the locality Viresh Borkar

7. Insightful understanding of labour of fishers - men and women. Work shapes not just body muscles but also bone structure. Example studied through medical observations by Lorette Joyce Pinto who is a renowned artist of Goa and teaches at Goa College of Art, Panjim. 

8. Good academic-public bridge building. Example Prof. Ramrao Wagh of Goa University.

9. Good Fisheries scientific research work. Example Prof Baban Ingole of NIO (National Institute of Responsibility) and Dr. Shreekant G.B of ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research).

10. Building local Fisheries Union. Example All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union.

11. Building and connecting with National level organisation. Example NPSSFW and its policy interventions.

12. Building International network. Example through website www.bharatmukti.blogspot.in 

13. Favorable media. Example empathasing with small scale fishing communities

14. Collective decision making.  Example collective strategies. Avoiding violence as form of protest at all cost. 

Pending challenges: 

1. Goa's rivers as National Waterways 

2. Inclusion of Mormugao Port under Major Ports Act 2021

3. Rising coastal pressures due to saleable tourist image of Goa

Windowpane oyster as a symbol of resistence and defence of Zuari estuary ecosystem in Goa.

Sebastian Rodrigues

December 03, 2023

COP 28, Dubai

And now Sawant-Godinho Marina duet!

Why do Goa Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho and Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant behave like Kargwal PROs advocating Nauxim Marina?

It is amazing as to how Minister of Panchayats Movin Godinho and Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has taken up the role as twin Public Relations Officers of Bombay based constructions firm Kargwal Constructions Private Limited in the spirited bid to destroy Zuari river fisheries that employs hundreds of families. Check out the Prudent TV video links here:

https://youtu.be/KKmyMimalIw?si=-xTSYjdqoLJv6wbS

There is also another Times of India links on the same topic here:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/cm-better-to-develop-a-marina-than-a-port/articleshow/105541600.cms

Goa Chief Minister is qouted saying if Marinas comes those employed will get same amount of salaries as abroad. If this is indeed true then he should first abolish all the contract labour practices and then raise the salaries of all the workers employees in all the industries on par with abroad where labour standards are highest. 

Godinho and Sawant must release white paper on employment status of Zuari river fisheries innits present form rather than shooting their mouth with verbuage. 

From their conduct it is possible to understand beyond doubt that heavy kick back are involved. In spite of the kickbacks to these politicians and most likely to ruling party too we need to go all out to defend and further enhance Fisheries in Goa and Zuari river fisheries in particular.

You are invited to ponder on this and contribute in your own way individually as well as in team work.

Srinivas Dempo comment on Nauxim Marina is back by ignorance of ground situation

ALL GOA WORKERS FEDERATION

220, Paltad wada, Maulinguem, Bicholim, Goa 403 504 m: 7798098426, 9923272471

________________________________

Date: 27th November 2023

To,

Shri Shrinivas Dempo

President,

Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Panaji, Goa 

Subject: GCCI support to Marina at Nauxim... regarding

Sir,

It has come to our attention through series of media attention like Times of India of November 25, 2023 ( https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gcci-to-support-marina-but-says-location-is-key/articleshow/105482703.cms ).

From our investigations it has revealed that prior to expressing your support to Marina you have not consulted people of Nauxim, Bambolim, Odxel, Cacra and Siridao who are likely to suffer direct impact of the Marina at Nauxim.

Your statement in Times of India ignores EIA report of AHOY Marina submitted to the Goa State Pollution Control Board that in its chapter five has stated that Marina at Nauxim will have Long term irreversible negative impact on Fisheries of Zuari river. Several hundred people and their families are dependent upon fishing in Zuari river for their livelihoods and we don't understand why GCCI desires to destroy this secure employment in fishing based economy. This is abnormal behavior pattern and urgent correction in core values of GCCI.

For more information in this context you may refer the links here : https://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2023/11/sobit-amchem-ganv-nistem-amchem-dispoto.html 

We call upon you to immidiately withraw your support to Marina in Goa and thereby allow fishing in Zuari in an undisturbed manner. Your are requested to review your stand on Marina and report to the undersigned at the earliest.

Thanking You,

Yours Truly,

Anand B. Shirodkar,

(General Secretary)

Indian Labour Ministry issues directions to Goa Government on Nestle labour issues

Indian Labour Ministry has directed Goa Government to resolve the pending labour issue at Maulinguem, Goa. Letter are dispatched to the Secretary (Labour) and the Labour Commisioner, Government of Goa. Nestle is multinational company and alleged to be involved in troubling Labour Union Leader of the rank of Helper at its Maulingem Plant.

 

And now its Srinivas Dempo's turn to drown in Marina waters!

And now it's Srinivas Dempo's turn to drown in Marina waters! Suicidal move!

It is amazing as to how consent is attempted to be manufactured for proposed AHOY Marina at Nauxim, Goa.

Project that is derailed for more than 13 years is sought to be ressurcted through hercullen efforts from Industry, Journalists and Politicians in 2023. Marina EIA report itself has stated that it will have long-term, negative and irreversible impact on Fisheries in Zuari river predicting assured doom to the small scale fishing activities in Zuari rivers. Inspite of this certification from the Anamalai University, Chennai still drumbeat are being blasted in defence of this ultra-destructive project.

After series of brow beatings by Gomantak Marathi newspaper editor Raju Nayak, Union Minister of State for Shipping, National Waterways and Ports, and Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant now it is the turn of Srinivas Dempo, President of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). Times of India Goa edition of 25 November 2023 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gcci-to-support-marina-but-says-location-is-key/articleshow/105482703.cms reports that Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has requested support for Nauxim Marina from GCCI. This means that Kargwal Constructions Private Limited doesn't have any support and even Raju Nayak, Sripad Naik and Dr. Pramod Sawant are failures in their support.

Srinivas Dempo is the latest entrant on the nautical tourism bandwagon with commitment to destroy Zuari river fisheries and with facination of Crotia in Europe. Srinivas Dempo had family tradition of destroying Goa's ecology through mining industry. One has to visit Bicholim to know how Dempos destroyed paddy fields, dried up several water bodies, finished of Forest land and deposited silt in paddy fields as well as Bicholim River. It was Dempo family owned Dempo Mining Corporation that singularly responsible for flooding in Bicholim from 1980s to 2009.

After tasting success at destroying Goa's mountains through their August 1941 mining concessions for set of five Mines covering 14 kilometers from Sirigao to Pilgao. 

Sooner Srinivas Dempo gets out of Marina bandwagon better it is for him. Otherwise his own family criminal heritage will ooze out the unexpected into Serendipity, IFFI and beyond. 

None of the fishermen of Zuari river has ever crossed swords against Srinivas Dempo and it is absolutely unclear as to why he should be so determined to destroy livelihoods of fishing communities. Perhaps because none of these gillnet fishers of Zuari are Bamons.  And EIA report has already classified Nauxim,  Cacra, Odxel villages as Shudra. Marina project has already laid caste based distinctions and Srinivas Dempo as Bamon must treat cautiously for these are troubled waters.

25 November 2023

Sobit Amche Ganv! Nistem Amchem Dispoto Giraiz!

Applea jivitantle moladik onbhov ani vichar amche modem vantta Joao Manuel Pinto. 

Siridao ani Nauxim  ganvant 1961 vorsa adim jem hanvem dolleamnim dekhlam ani kananim aikolam tem lokamche nodrek hadtam. Siridao Ani  Nauxim he karvi  lokamche  ganv. Portugues kaidea pormonem rampnim, xinzelam, magg doriantlem nistem dorunk,  lahn toxem vodd poneuv  ani  vodeanchim lisiençam  Captain of Ports hea kateantlean Kadchim podtalim. Lisiençam aiz pasum kadtat ani lokam laguim samballun dovorlolim asat.

Zallamchim vanxim (fish nets) bharik, lhan, modle ani motea zokachim  astalim. Bharik vaxeamchea zalanim nistem mharpak vo dorunk bondhi asli. Oxe toren Portugues sorkar nisteacho sambal kori ani nisteachi vadd zaunk pautali.

Pausachea tempar June, July, Agost moineant rampnim, xinzelam, magg doreant ghali nasle, kiteak nistem zolmon evunk adhar zatalo. Uchamboll zalelea doreant nistem tondgar svateamcher doreache thodik evum rautalim mhonn amche sorgest kharvi bhau sangtale.

Nauxe Ani Bambolim Bay-acho (doreacho) zagho uchamboll axillea doreachea adosak podta ani nisteacho jiv prann vadonk sondhi meuta.

Agostachea moineant paus khomin zatoch Setembrache survatek Siridao, Bambolim , Nauxim veller nisteachi  xeu (uvar) mhunn zatali ani bhorpur nistem zallamnim podtalem. Nistem polleun jivak umedh ani sontos bogtalo. Oxe porim nistem akhe Zuari nodient ani Arbi somdirant porsautalem. Captain-Of-Ports-ache odhikari oslea velar zallanchim topasnim (inspection) korunk goemchea vellancher bounvtale. Bharik vanxeanchea zallanim nistem dorlolem mheulear tim zallam zopt kortale.

1961 vorsa adhim zuari nodint motoracheo botti (motorboats) ani fishing trawlers nasle, fokot minacheo bharji choltaleo. Atam dista tosli uchanbollai, Zuari nodint nam mhunn Arbi somdhirant nasli.

Nauxe dhongrachem pont Zuari nodint (estuary) pauta. Te svatek amche kharvi bhav ‘Nauxe Bandear’ mhunntale. He svatecher doriant khoddpancher utpon zalelim kalvam, xinnaneo, mhendhieo (Window pane shells) kharvi bhav doriant budd mharun konchun kadtale. Toxench dorea-sukte velar Siridao Jesus Nazareth vadeant oddakodche veller lokh kubhe, tisreo, mhendhio Ani  sutte chinklantle korpun kadtale.

Nistekar Zuari nodi ani Arbi somdhirachea udexim  aplo ani aple familichem udharposon korun sukhi jietale. Tankam Govermentacho kosloch adhar  naslo.

1961 vorsa uprant jednam fishing trawlers, motorboats, zuari nodint bhitor sorle ani boraboruch doriant tourism sports suru zaunk laglo ani vadot  ghelo tednam, traditional kharvi bhavanchea pottar farr ievunk suru zalle. Itlench nuim, bhotinchea avazan ani bizlechea (light) uzvadan Siridao, Bambolim, Nauxe  bay-ant nistem tant’tiam ghallunk bhivonk laglim ani oxe toren nistem komim  zait vochonk laglem (Unauv zait ghelo).

Kaim vorsam fatim, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Bambolim velek tenkhun CRZ- ant bandhun kadlem. Tem ek illegal contruction mhonn goem bhor dass podleli. Atam legalise zalam ou Kellam astolem.

Bambolim veller aiz xinzellam ani lhan khantaeo dhovorpacheo bhond zait gheleo ani fudharak bhond zaupache vatter assa, karan veller vospacheo vatto oxhir ani bhond zait geleleo dista. Tea bhair highend touristank veller fishing kellelem bhilkul mandhonam kiteak veller zai toxi mouza touristank korunk mevonam. Itlench noim nisteacho vass hotelak lagta.

Hotelachi security rampnim-xinzelam ani magg dovrunk adkoll adunk laglea ani hadtatt. Akach lagun soimbim add udorghoticher goenkar avaz utounk fudem sorla ani sorot assa.

Corporate Houses, newspapers, TV channels (anchors), digital media, dis ani rath development projectancher advertisement ani conferences goddun haddun, projectam udexim boreponam ieunchim ani lokhank mhellchim assa tem lokamche nodre mukar dovrun , ek ‘Public Opinion’ toyar korta (manufacturing consent) fokot ‘political economink’ lagon ani  he baxen lokamchim monan dixeabull kortat.

Dusre vaten projectam voir kritik (tika) khortoleank, NGO-ank, goemchem bhorem dektoleank  projectam voir bhasabas korunk, newspapers, TV channels ani digital mediacher favo tho zaggo dinnant, karan tanche vichar ani ievzonneo projectam voir add vochot mhunn.

 

Dekik Nauxim-Marina Project

Nauxim-Bambolim bay-ant ho project bhandun haddunk MPT vo MPA -n   lease deed contrad sign kelo mhunn kobhor podlea ani IPB-n (Investment Promotion Board), soimbim kaidhea add appli porvanghi dillea. Jedhnam ho project suru kortole tednam poilim Nauxi-bhandear  thaun doriant ek robol fatrancho vado toear kortole (embankment/reclaim land). Uprant Bambolim resort-achea fudlean sukte velar doriant ek durig zalelea porim koddpam distat, taka Bambolimcho bhando munntat. Hea bhandeak thaun robolsancho bhand (embankment) toear zatolo ani uprant donuim bhandeam  modhem ek khavtem (opening) doriachem udok bhair bhitor sorpak dhovortole. Tea uprant Nauxim bay kolaitole (ustitole) ani chikoll, mati kaddun Nauxi vele vatten doriantlean zomin borun hadtole (reclaiming land) boattink (yatchs,etc )  dock korpak.

Bottinchi suvidha korunk ek doko, Fuel house, water storage tanks, Toilets, maintenance yard, staff housing, warehouse/boathouse, training centre osleo souloti bandhun haddtole. Uprant shopping centre, tourist hotels, land casinos, adi, Nauxim dongrar bandhpachi goroz podttoli. Oxem zatoch drugs, prostitution, gambling, crimes, zaun ganv chi xhanti bigottoli zoxe porim goemchea sabar ganvamnim dixtti podtta .

Itlench noim, project toyar zatoch, nisteachi pik vadot kaii?

Zuari nodint nistem porsovtolem kaii?

Vo sorkar xetam puroun , xetanim nisteacheo hatcheries (farming) korun  nisteachem bhiim doriant Ani nhodinim sodtole kaii?

Ani sorv bhonvtim vattaranim hacho faido vo luksonn zatolem kai? Osle sabar proxnn upzota.

Shirdonnchea kharvi bhavank Bambolim ani Nauxeche veller xinzelam Ani khanttalleo hea fuddem vodunk mellot Kai?  Hea projectak lagon nauxechea lokak aplea garantle umttun kaddun uddoitole Ani tankam  dusrea svateancher galtole. Oxem godot zalear te aplea nusteacho vaur he novea  svateancher thaun korunk pavot Kai? Zori tor tankam Compensation legit dilem zalear, kitlo temp legun hea compensationacher te  zogtole? Hea nustekar bhavanchea koxtank lagon sodeak sabar ganvchea lokank tajem nustem khaunk mellta, fudarak tem mevot Kai vo tankam formalinchench khauchem poddtolem? Monant Osle sabar proxnn upzotat.

Munxean apleaponank lagon soimbhacho duspott kelolo dolleam mukar dista. Desadesanim dornkamp, butteo, volcanic eruptions, sunamin, adol-moddam, adi zait assat. Apsuvartak lagon Goemchi doxea zaunk paulea. Atamcho somaz cronic capitalistamcho zala.

Adle purvoz, xinkonk nasle tori tankam zanvai asli. Zanvai-en  te cholle ani goemcho fudhar boro zauncho ani goem sodanch bhangarachem urchem mhunn tamchea kallzachi axea asli.

Atamche xinklele ani amche amdhar (goemkaramche kamdhar) apponn bhudvont ani zannar mhunn somzotat ani goemchi durdoxea kortat.

Khori zanvai xinkpa udhexim azun tankam mheuli-nam,  dekhun aiz bhangarachem Goa chiklachem Goa  zaunk paulam.

Chint munxea korchea adhim uprant rodonn faido-nam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

World Fisher Peoples Day

 Design by John Lino

AGSSRFU letter to Goa CM on Nauxim Marina

ALL GOA SMALL SCALE RESPONSIBLE FISHERIES UNION

190, Nauxim, Tiswadi, Goa 

November 06, 2023

To,

Dr. Pramod Sawant

The Chief Minister 

Government of Goa

Porvorim, Goa

Subject: Withrawal of support to Nauxim AHOY Marina in Zuari river

Respected Sir,

We have come to know from media reports that you are advocating enforcement of AHOY Marina at Nauxim Beach.

We wish to draw your attention urgently to the fact that the draft EIA of the declared that Nauxim Marina will create negative long term irreversible impact on Zuari river fisheries. This means the following:

1. Impact will be negative. It is going to harm Zuari river fisheries. Marina will do bad things to Zuari river.

2. Impact will be long term. Harm caused to fisheries will be long lasting. It is not short term harm.

3. Impact will be irreversible. It will never be possible to undo the harm caused. That means Zuari river fishery will be forever destroyed.

If inspie of all the above points you still support AHOY Marina project then undoubly you are leading the State of Goa's fishery towards suicide and not the accidental death. This is so because project proponents through their draft EIA themselves have declared doom of the Zuari river fishery.

Additionally lease deeds for both the Marinas -Nauxim by Kargwal Constructions and Sancoale by Chowgules-has ensured safely only of the barges navigating in Zuari river. Both the lease deeds has not even acknowledged existence of fishing canoes in Zuari river. So on record Marinas at Nauxim and Sancoale are a strategy to destroy robust Zuari river fishery.

Please retract your support to this Marina at Nauxim Sir before it is too late and intimate the undersigned immidiately.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

President 

Laximan Mangueshkar 

Secretary

Copy to 

Shri Nilkhant Halarnkar,

Minister of Fisheries, 

Government of Goa

Shri Nilesh Cabral,

Minister of Environment, 

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

Secretary (Fisheries)

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

Director of Fisheries,

Government of Goa, 

Panaji, Goa

Captain of Ports,

Panaji, Goa

Shri Viresh Borkar

MLA, St. Andre Constituency

Goa Velha, Goa

Smt. Jennifer Monserrate 

MLA, Taleigao Constituency, 

Taleigao, Goa

Shri A. Monserrate,

Minister for Labour, 

Government of Goa,

Porvorim, Goa

Shri Antonio Vaz

MLA, Cortalim Constituency,

Cortalim, Goa

Member-Secretary,

Goa State Bio-diversity Board,

Saligao, Goa

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Curca-Bambolim-Telaulim,

Tiswadi, Goa

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, Goa 

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Taleigao

Taleigao, Goa

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Siridao,

Siridao, Goa

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Cortalim,

Cortalim, Goa 

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Sancoale,

Sancoale, Goa

Sarpanch,

Village Panchayat of Chicalim,

Chicalim, Goa

When Goa Fisheries department joins purse seiners for Zuari river loot

 When Goa Fisheries department joins purse seiners for Zuari river loot...

Fisheries department today allowed illegal purse seine fishing by three canoes near Dona Paula Jetty on the mouth of Zuari river. Inspite of telephonic complaint to the control room of the Fisheries department there was no action. 

Three canoes carried on their illegal act at 5.30 pm today 06 November 2023 violating section 144 imposed by North Goa Collector due to National Games. From this action it is clear that Fisheries department is biased against Gill nets fishers in its action.

Director of Fisheries had warned the fishermen to such an extent that even the presence of fishing boats on Vaiguinim beach was intolerable and wanted to clear off canoes like bin of garbage with 20 days with ban on fishing.

Now it is clear that Fisheries department allowed illegal fishing to go on at Miramar Jetty thereby confirming nexus between the purse seiners and the department of Fisheries.

At the venue of National Games at Dona Paula only small scale fishers are banned while purse seiners carry the loot with impunity. 

How many people from fishing community are there in Fisheries department who can understand fishing issues properly? 

Goa's great fishing tragedy continues with Fisheries department being active collabotator of fishing loot.

All Goa Small-scale responsible Fisheries Union strongly condemns ongoing loot of Fisheries in Zuari under Section 144 Cr.Pc.

As more Marina lies are peddled...

 As more Marina lies gets peddled...

There is latest video online from Gomantal TV that peddles more lies regarding attempted Predatory assault on Nauxi village through Marina. Here is the link:

https://youtu.be/Od8RqA4vkp4?si=MEiYphXXIK5yl_OU 

We take this opportunity to expose them one by one and understand their implications. 

1. Col. Milind on behalf of AHOY Marina of Kargwal Constructions from Mumbai asserts that there will be no impact on fishing due to Marina at Nauxim. It appears that he has not read their own EIA Report that notes that this Marina will have Long term negative irreversible impact on Fisheries. Col. Milind has to explain as to how he can go against his own EIA. This means that Col. Milind is intellectually dishonest person and cannot be trusted. 

2. Show anchor Raju states that mining barges has no negative impact on rivers. He has ignored Goa University Marine Sceince department study that proved how Zuari river in Goa is polluted due to mining. Further Raju Nayak willfully ignored first meeting minutes of Goa State Pollution Control Board that has clearly recorded damage being inflicted on Goa's rivers due to mining transportation and need to create public awareness about the same.

3. If Marina is to be safeguarding fishing canoes then why there is protection provided in the lease deed of 12 October 2010 itself where is safeguards are provided to right of passage of the barges?

4. If Marina promises jobs to locals then there needs to be prior auditing of how Manu jobs locals were given at Goa Medical College at Bambolim. If projects were for jobs to locals of Nauxim then daily five kadambas would have not transported workers from Valpoi. Similar auditing is required of Goa University too that took over land of local people.

5. Raju Nayak tom-toms about nautical tourism for which Marina is sought ro be pushed on Nauxim. There is already five star tourism in Goa and there is acute labour exploitation through rampant contract system. He is quite about it.

6. The entire edifice of Marina led aggression is as terrible in its consequence as Mopa Airport for people as well as ecology. It is form of mass anhilition of people's livelihoods and ecological sustainability that needs to be resisted and opposed.

7. St. Andre MLA Viresh Borkar opposed Marina at Nauxim as it will destroy fishing based livelihoods. This is a good sign and his defence needs further upgradation.

8. One thing that remained without reference is that local people has not proposed Marina as form of development. It has been imposed from outside. This is a consequence of Goa being annexed through conquest in 1961 as underlined by Supreme Court of India in Gosalia case. Nauxim is a first hand experience of what the conquest mean.

9. People of Goa doesn't have any option but to oppose the projects that are imposed from outside for that's the way of asserting freedom. People like the TV anchor and the Project Proponent has deformed understanding of communities. For these two guys all that matters is money, capital, profit. People and ecology are merely fodders for their pervert agenda.

10. Frustration of Col. Milind got revealed when he refered to opposition to IIT in Goa. He went bankrupt on marina therefore got IIT on the agenda. Debate was not out IIT Col. Milind breached in his conduct.

11. Political and economic ties of Gomantak owners in Mumbai needs to be examined to identify their links with Kargwal Constructions Private Limited.

03 November 2023

Radiation threat to school students at Gulem, Sattari

On mobile tower radiation threats to villagers and students at Government School at Gulem, Sattari

Dr. S. A. Rodrigues

It's trajectory is complex. Village was nestled in Western Ghats mighty mountains where rivers are born. Four and half decades back Pratapsigh Rane, then Chief Minister of Goa decided to dam one river in Sattari to benefit sugarcane plantations. Promises of industrial growth was alluring to Rane and so he matched his moves with vibes of his times.

This dam is today known as Anjunem dam. Four villages were submerged. People of these villages were resettled elsewhere. Three of these villages were resettled in Morlem Panchayat Jurisdiction. Their settlement today is collectively known as "Morlem Colony".

One of these resettled village is named Gulem. They are people with sharp memories of their original inhabitation in the mountains. There is disjuctures in their histories. Politically they are in Poriem Constituency with Divya Rane as their MLA.

Gulem has number of houses, shops, Pre-primary, Primary and High schools. All of them are Government schools and has blue and white as their uniforms. Pre-primary has 10 students, Primary has 56 students studying daily while High school has 173 students. So total students that study in Gulem sxhool complex itself amount to 239 students. There is little open space nearby and village children use it as play ground.

From the village plains majestic tall western ghats mountains are visible at some distance away and temptations to track are not rare occurances to a visitor to Gulem.

Some village children study in schools in Sinquerim, the nearby city located some kilometers away. Air here is pure, scenery picturesque. Yet not every is fine. There is subtle currents of unrest. Power relations are getting disturbed. Their village space to play for children is being 'developed' for the purpose of WaterTreatment Plant. Additionally, next to the school complex there is newly erected mobile tower. Village is disturbed yet again. Memories of rehabilitation hasn't healed yet and now there is glaring possibility of radiation with frequencies in megabytes and even gigabytes.

Village is concerned deeply on the likely health impact of additional radiation from the cellular tower. Those at powers-that-be are certain that for the sake of progress and prosperity cellular towers are needed. PWD, IT departments in Goa has been promoting cellular towers all over by suppressing information on radiation effects on human health and the entire biotic community. Towers are installed through speed and sleath while people are still ignorant. 

Gulem village however is fortunate to have public spirited sensitive citizens Ashok Gawas and Ramnath Parab to forsee dangers of radiation to the village. "Till about five years back we used to see so many vultures feeding on dead. But now after mobile towers installation their reproductive process got disrupted. The eggs they used to lay started getting damaged due to radiation from the cellular towers and their population is currently on verge of extinction" observed Ramnath Parab who is active in various media initiatives in Goa including broadcasting and publishing. 

"Mobile tower radiation is single most reason for drastic reduction in coconut yield over the past ten years" remarked another village lady at the meeting to focus on radiation impacts.

"There are at least 20 instances of resistence to cellular tower installation due to radiation issues in Goa" informs Ashok Gawas, young man that struggles around radiation issues in the village.

Fortnight back villagers of Gulem carried on signature campaign against installation of mobile tower by indus company next to village school in letters addressed to the IT, PWD, GSPCB and other departments of Goa Government. It is not clear as to what action has been taken by these government authorities.

Installation of mobile tower was done under police protection. When approached police informed the villagers that they should either get directions from the Court of Law or from local MLA. It only then plans to installed mobile tower next to school complex in Gulem can be stalled.

Do school students has no say in the matter? Are they supposed to be sacrificial goats for the cellular industry? Isn't it a duty of education department to ensure safety of students from mobile tower radiation? Do Child Rights Commision any duty to speak up on mobile tower installations next to school buildings when prescribed limit is 500 meters distance from schools, prisons etc? Should we activate Article 51-A(g) dealing with Fundamental duties at mass scale to combat cellular radiation?

Currently Divya Rane is the local MLA. As per available information her office in Sattari don't even posses rubber stamp to receive acknowledgement to submitted petitions. Why is this situation? Why citizens of Poriem Constituency put under this kind of treatment?

After village Gulem submergence under Anjunem dam, do State of Goa aims at anhilition of the village through radiation?

Scientific studies reveal that infertility, sleeplessness, brain tumors, carcinogenic threats are very common due to radiation. And with 5G roll out dangers are to multiply. There are several scientific research studies available and we will be happy to share and collaborate. 

There is need to raise sensitivity levels on mobile tower radiations at every level including with Judges at the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court.

We have inspiration flowing from  Upendra Borkar whose relentless struggle has led to uprooting of Reliance mobile tower at Kurduwada, Khandola in 2019. We have suucessful fightback from young man from Betki, Ponda Nitesh Shetkar in 2023. We have teacher Julia D'souza from Moira who fought successfully with collaboration of her fellow villagers against mobile tower installation decade ago. We have pioneer in Rohidas Andrade and his team in Bambolim who intercepted Reliance mobile tower installation at 5.00 am before the dawn of the day. They are all our inspiration. Are you will to be one more to lead and inspire movement to free our society of radiation malaise in your own small or/and big way?

To offer your solidarity with Gulem villagers kindly contact Ashok Gawas @ +919923272471

Fishing Union challenge North Goa MP Shripad Naik on his Marina statement

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union takes strong objections to the recent comments on Nauxim Marina uttered by North Goa MP Shripad Naik who is also Union Minister of State for Shipping, Ports and Inland Waterways. 

 https://fb.watch/nVV6MsgYj9/?mibextid=T3FBdp

Video clip posted on Facebook of North Goa member of Parliament advocating Marina in Nauxim needs our attention. Naik argues that in order to generate employment Marina is needed in Nauxim.

What North Goa MP has missed is the current employment scenario at the same spot in Nauxim due to Fisheries. Almost 95 per cent of Nauxim village is employed in gillnet fishing. 

Statement proves that North Goa MP is totally ignorant of local situation in Nauxim and shooting baseless statements instead of visiting Nauxim and getting first hand information.

We invite Mr. Naik to conduct site visit to Nauxim and also affected villages  nearby including Cacra and Odxel that are termed as inhabitants Shudras in AHOY Marina draft EIA report circulated by Goa State Pollution Control Board.

Shaila D'Mello

President 

Laximan Mangueshkar

Secretary

Welcome to Marina? My Foot!

 Welcome to Marina? My Foot!

Critique of "Marinache Swagat vyhave!" (Marina must be welcome!) in October 21, 2023 edition

And when Journalist turns corporate peddler consequences are blatant as the editorial of 21 October 2023 in Marathi daily published from Goa: Gomantak. Editorial has been reduced by its editor Raju Nayak to peddle same ideas that another former editor of Herald and Gomantak Times attempted few years ago: Ashwin Tombat. Their writings are at the cross roads in Crotia and Marinas in this tiny European country. We respect Crotians fondly for their legacy in Gaudalim village of Goa but advocacy of  transplantation of their marina experience is absurd. 

Both Raju Nayak now and Ashwin Tombat earlier are wearing terrible biased and prejudiced spectacles to spin out their master's voice. Both of then has opted to ignore not only current fishing status of people of Nauxim but also guarantee of "long term negative irreversible impact" on fishing in chapter five of AHOY Marina.

Raju Nayak celebrates the fact that Expert Appraisal Committee of MOEF & CC has done away with the very need for Environmental Clearance. This hardly a cause for celebration unless one is acclaimed sadist who rejoices at complete destruction of important portion of Goa's Fisheries sector and cultural genocide of people of Nauxim village. It's transformation of Tribal fishing village into gambling sinful den.

One can lead ignorant to the light of wisdom but none can prevent the knowledgeable moving towards intellectual suicide. And so we can do nothing about Raju Nayak except wish him safe journey into the deeper ditch while we keep perenial watch on him from all sides.

Those who genuinely wish to know factual basis for opposing Marina for more than past dozen years they are invited to take online tour at https://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2022/03/for-urgent-attention-agenda-point-no-35.html.

Nauxim village is already under severe pressure from loss of mountainous land to Aldeia de Goa inhabited by economically powerful elements. One doesn't require ricket science to understand involvement of descion making bodies at various strata of governance from Panchayat to Town and Country Planning Department. After stealing of land what attempted stealing of waters of Zuari: the blue grab. It's brigadands are captained by Editors habitual to peddling of corporate driven ideas. Raju Nayak and Ashwin Tombat are just two of them and we shall wait for more to come on the prowl. In the meanwhile let's be ready with smoke and incense to welcome them!

Dr. S.A. Rodrigues

Notes on Land Aquisition notice for IIT Goa

South Goa Collector Asvin Chandru A., IAS issued public notice on 11 October 2023 to acquire 10,51,618 m² of land in Sanguem taluka's Rivona village consisting of survey numbers 168/1 (6,27,703 m²), 169/1 (3,79,500 m²), 169/2 (11,315 m²), 169/3 (33,100 m²). The reason to acquire this land given is to set up permanent campus of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) that was sanctioned to Goa half a decade ago.

To whom does this land belong to in Rivona as per form I & XIV Form? What is the current landuse there?

Currently IIT functions at Famagudi with shared campus of Goa College of Engineering. 

Additionally Goa ready has huge campus of Birla Institute of Technology at Pilani, Rajasthan.

Goa University on the other hand is spiral low spree in its standard with sliding down in its ranking from A to B. Corruption has skyrocketed with pace of Chamdrayan to the moon under current Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Registrar.

Primary education has taken nasty blows with collapse of school infrastructure. Devidas Gaonkar, a journalist from Khotigao has been filing repeated stories in media.

Government of Goa ascwell as Government of India is supervising Goa's educational crisis. 

In the middle of all thus we get to know that priority has taken by permanent campus to IIT Goa.

Time has arrived comprehensive evaluation of educational situation in Goa notwithstanding enforcement of New Educational Policy. It's time to critically asses as to what extent education system in Goa - technical and non-technical is in the interest of Goa and to what extent it is in is promoted by vested interests. 

Primary issue at stake is two fold: Land and Education. Whose land? For whose education? IIT Goa controversy that is raging for almost half a decade has to be placed in this context. Each educational institution must be audited to check as to how it has served interest of Goa and to what extent. This involves marked departure, a paradigm shift.

Regarding proposed permanent campus of IIT Goa at Rivona local people's views are important to respect inspite of Collector's dietary on Land Acquisition. 

Rivona Panchayat Jurisdiction has large number of mining eases granted by Portugues government due to prevalent of mineral deposits in the village. Proposed IIT Campus in Rivona will have to face this reality. Or it may even happened that IIT Campus might start digging ore in-house or even turn the campus into mining pit in national or public interest for we are in situation when impossible is I m possible!

Dr. S.A. Rodrigues

Goa Fishing to be shut down for the sake of National Games?

According to the received reports at 11.40 am today 17 October 2023 State Government through Captain of Ports is attempting to shut down fishing activities in Arabian Sea being operated by traditional gillnet fishermen from Vaiginim beach where Taj operated Cidade de Goa five star hotel is located.

National Games in Goa are to begin shortly and to last for 20 days  and if the plans of State Government materializes then fishermen and our families will be rendered with snatched livelihoods for 20 days or may be even forever should Tatas conquer Vaiginim Beach.

What is even more scary is that office of Captain of Ports is asking the fishermen to clean up the beach of canoes. This is indeed nightmarish situation. 

All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries strongly condemns attempts to shut down fishing activities of small scale fishers of Arabian Sea and Zuari river and calls upon Goa Government to refrain from embarking on such suicidal adventure. 

Earlier during G-20 meeting similar attempt to clear the beach of fishing canoes was made directly by Taj administered Cidade de Goa few months ago. Fishermen had strongly resisted these moves of Tatas that time and carried in their fishing activities with normal course.

The memories of attacks on fishermen in Morjim beach through demolitions and Cacra Beach through mischievous fires during past few months are fresh and the All Goa Small Scale Responsible Fisheries Union condemns clandastine ant-fisher policies being manifested through Captain of Ports and other State agencies.

Similarly Kalinganagar massacre by Tatas against mylnivasi people has dark presence in Indian History. It's best that Tata avoid playing around lives and livelihoods of FIshing communities in Goa.

Also read  https://thewire.in/labour/goas-fishermen-protest-fishing-ban-imposed-during-national-games

Also read an Article by Amita Kanekar below

https://www.heraldgoa.in/Edit/Opinions/No-Coast-for-Fisherfolk/213449

Do you feel that fish farmed through aquaculture is as good as wild caught fish?

 "Do you feel that fish farmed through aquaculture is as good as wild caught fish?"

Ethics and Political Agenda of Goa Chief Minister Research program in Fisheries

This is a question number 4 of the Fisheries online survey currently being carried by Abigail Fernandes Research Fellow in Goa Chief Minister's team at the links https://forms.gle/3YhBK8PfZwgFhVPz9 

Glance at the nature of questions framed signals that State Government is attempting to manufacture consent to go ahead enforcing industrialization of Goa's rivers that were taken over by Central Government without anyone in Goa being consulted except then Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar who betrayed Goa through his clandestine consent to declare six rivers of Goa as National Waterways in 2016.

However fishing communities continued fight back even after Goa Forward betrayed through their U-turn stand on National Waterways issue. From 2006 till 2023 there were various attempts to brainwash people of Goa and surrender rivers for its industrial destruction.

Abigail Fernandes as skilled researcher has joined CM's team. Crisis is not in her skill but in ethics including agenda of this research. She has been ably facilitated in this venture by Director of Fisheries Deepesh Priolkar through his official letter no. DF/ADMN/GCMFP/2023-24/3095 dated 12/09/2023 to various Fisheries organisations and Societies as well as two Deans from Goa University namely Dean, School of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and Dean, School of Biological Sciences and Bio-technology. Copy of the letter is also marked to Director of Planning and Statistics & Evaluation.

One point program of the CM's research agenda is to drive ahead Cage fishing (form of aquaculture) at large scale in Goa. Goa Government as well as Central Government has framed number of funding schemes in this direction. The political agenda has remained constant from 2016 to 2023: expulsion of fishers from the rivers. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari used to visit Goa in 2015-16 and exhort fishermen in Zuari to give up gillnet fishing and go for trawling in seas. He used to say this in order to empty Zuari river of all small-scale fishers so that Marinas at Nauxim and Sancoale can be installed. These Marinas that were planned in 2010 hasn't materialized and Coastal ecology is still intact without such industrialization due fundamental objections on fishing grounds. 

Fishing within 12 naitical miles is State subject under the Constitution of India. Even if Goa's rivers are declared as National Waterways it has no Jurisdiction to inflict damage on Fisheries in any state. Manohar Parrikar during his last stint as Chief Minister of Goa got various MoUs signed between Captain of Ports and Inland Waterways Authority of India. Dredging of rivers is major objection of fishers followed by shrinking fishing spaces. He attempted to dualogue with groups of people on December 11, 2017 but could not answer questions from Maggie Silveira, then President of Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit on the decision making process involving Goa's six rivers as National Waterways. Parrikar simply stated that itbis like Goa Liberation of 1961 and Government of India doesn't require to consult anyone before passing any laws in Parliament of India. Maggie then questioned him back as to what is the use of calling India a democracy. Parrikar then quickly said that now meeting is closed. Yet dissent on Goa's rivers as National Waterways has continued.

State and Central governments in India -largely controlled by corporate and industrial interests - have promoted large scale funds towards aquaculture.

Directorate of Fisheries had granted permision fie Cage fishing on Divar island to one industrial enterprise named Champions Island. RTI query with Goltim-Navelim Panchayat had no data on species of fish farmed through cages. Later on others revealed that permision for Cage fishing was only an alibi to get access to tourism boats for water sports. Champions Island in the name of Cage fishing wentbon to destroy Mangroves, dredge the river and destroyed fertile fish breeding spaces. This has disrupted fishing activities and authorities such as local Panchayat of Goltim-Navelim, North Goa Collector, MLA, Director of Fisheries as well as Chief Minister has neglected. On the contrary there is massive promotion of illegal sand mining at night in Mandovi as well as water sports that has negatively affected small scale fishing in Mandovi.

Instead of protecting fishers and rivers Goa Government is pursuing industrial agenda on rivers. This is not only unfortunate but lethal to small scale Fisheries.

Now let's turn to question no. 4 for some reflection. Question reads "Do you feel that fish farmed through aquaculture is as good as wild caught fish?"

The feeling focus is noteworthy. What research aims through this question is collection of peoples feelings. Is this question already not well settled scientifically? But than resorting to science would mean departure from feelings into the world of thinking. This research is therefore research into collection of feelings. Intellectually this is shallow exercise.

Fish farmed through aquaculture has variety of connotations in different parts of India. Internationally we just witnessed  conclusion of the year of Artisanal Fisheries and aquaculture under FAO. However for Goa river context this is problematic. More so because farming of fish involves confining fish in particular spot and feeding with all kinds of things, increasing vulnerabilities including high risk of specie escapes. Aquaculture was prevalent in Goa's traditional salt pans "Agors", "poim" and flourished without intensive chemical inputs. Prawn farms on the banks of Sal river is another variety that had shut salt pans down.

What is the matter of concern here however is Cage fishing in rivers at juncture in time when Goa's rivers are declared as National Waterways and Corporates are eager to takeover our rivers gor interests as divers as tourism, mining and other purposes such as coal transportation. MOEF & CC Expert Appraisal Committee was approached by Inland Waterways Authority of India on behalf of some 228 mining barges from Goa to dredge mandovi, Cumbharjua and Zuari rivers by organising proper Public Hearings. State Government took the route of constructing floating Jetties to avoid Public Hearing.

Question assumes that wild caught fish is good. Issue sought to be posed is whether farm fish is as good too. Let's deal with this matter this way. Is life for human in prison is as good as life in freedom? One has to be some degree of sadist even to imagine such a question. One has to be morally deformed to answer that life in prison is as good as free life outside. What this question aims is to condition us to say farm fish is as good as wild caught fish brushing aside pertinent ethical issues. Issue of freedom is central in these discourses and surely point is driven home.  It has also been observed on 05 October 2023 evening at around 6.15 pm that digital option to respond negatively was disabled on website and it was enabled only after complaint was lodged with Abigail Fernandes by fishermen Roque Menezes. Fernandes responded with attempted cover up statement that touch of fisherman wasn't on check box and negative option is enabled. So basically research discourges negative feedback from general public by resorting to digital chicanery. This is like whichever party you vote in EVM BJP gets them on their account! This raises questions on credibility of this research enterprise and intellectual honestly of the researcher.

Few years back there were attempts to uproot stake fishing in the middle of rivers in Goa. This was resisted too by various groups of fishing communities. Fishers has fought tooth and nail against every attempt to safeguard Goa's rivers. Latest attempt is rather soft involving research and lure of money to confine fishing c9mmunities into cages. Research is checking out awareness on various schemes related to Fisheries in Goa. What is surprising is that research has taken online route rather than direct meetings with fishing communities and recording fishers responses manually. Anyway that's researcher headache what is our studied concern is ethics of the research being pursued to tailor suit particular political agenda of the corporate and industry interests.

There are several research areas that one can pursue in Goa's river connected Fisheries. What needs attention is ethics and politics underlying research agenda. This note is contribution in this regard.

Goa Forest under development aggression

Stripped Tiger and two cubs are moving around in Tuem, Pernem as per information received 24 hours ago. Forests of Pernem are facing aggression from Mopa Airport, Tourism cum real estste projects and irresponsible Forest administration in Goa that engages in innumerable sabotage. The situation is moving into dangerous phase after India "annexed Goa through conquest" in 1961 as Supreme Court of India noted in Gosalia Judgement. Democracy has proved to be conduit to current state of affairs with buying and selling of votes.

However we are happy to note Ray of hope from Morjim youth to fight back and protect nature and indigenous people in Pernem. We express our support to Mayur Shedgaokar and his newly formed team in Morjim.

Beware of growline fraudsters

 It has come to our attention that one company named growline involved in online investment and trading has been found cheating people who has invested capital with them. 

One person has been cheated with Rs.20,700/- two days back.

This message is to alert you to be careful of such online fraudsters.

Goa Government surrender Agricultural land to mining interests

It is saddening to note that Goa Government even though is preparing agriculture policy it has sabotaged Goa's farming interests through surrender to mining aggressions. Goa Legislative Assembly has not only committed blunder of the century but has also reduced themselves as merely executive committee of the mining companies. Long battle awaits us.

                      The text

Section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 "Permision for non-agricultural use.--- No land used for agriculture shall be used for any non-agricultural purpose; and no land assessed for one non-agricultural purpose shall be used for any other non-agricultural purpose or for the same non-agricultural purpose but in relaxation of any of the conditions imposed at the time of the grant or permission for non-agricultural purpose, except with the permission of the Collector under Section 32.

[Provided that the provisions of this section shall not be applicable to the land in occupation of the Government, Corporation of the City of Panaji, a Municipal Council or a Village Panchayat and land to be used for the installation of solar or wind power station.(inserted vide Ammendment Act 5 of 2021)] 

[Provided further that, nothing in this section shall apply to the activity undertaken in pursuance of the permission/licence granted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (Central Act No. 67 of 1957) and rules made thereunder.(Inserted vide Amendment Act 6 of 2023)]

 

                    Implications

2023 Amendment to section 30 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 carried on by Goa Legislative Assembly allows mining in agriculture land without any permision from Collector of the respective Districts in Goa.

                        Çonsequences

So now it is legal to take over paddy fields for mining purpose. There is no need for mining companies even to pay any compensation for crop loss due to siltation of fields.

           Matter of Choice

Goa Government has chosen mining over agriculture. Mining is all set to inflict artifical planned disaster in near future and Goa's legislature is complicit in it. People have to make their choice. Agriculture policy cannot supercede Land Revenue Code. Ģoa Agriculuture Minister Ravi Naik and the members of the drafting committee has to make their stand clear or no policy can work however good it may be if Amendment to section 30 allowing mining in agriculture is not withdrawn.

Kindly share this note further.