Why fisheries control room phone goes non-functional?

10 May 2024

To,

The Superitendent of Police,

Coastal Security,

Panaji, Goa 

To,

The Director,

Department of Fisheries,

Panaji, Goa

To,

Captain of Ports,

Government of Goa,

Panaji, Goa

Subject: Eight trawlers carried on illegal Mechanised fishing in Zuari river and non-funtional Fisheries control room phone number 08322425263 leading to serious violation of directions in WP 2844/23 at Goa Bench of Bombay High Court

Madam/Sir,

This is to bring to your attention that mechanised fishing through purse seine fishing gear was carried on inside Zuari river on 09 May 2024 from 9.45 am upto well beyond mid-night at 00.30 pm.

All the efforts to register complaints against mechanised fishing at Fisheries department control room proved futile as the phone was non-functional with busy tone from 9.55 pm till 10.55 pm while illegal fushing was going one in Zauari. 

We suspect that landlines phone receiver was kept off the hook deliberately in order to prevent calls of illegal mechanised fishing being registered at the Fisheries Control Room. This is indeed very dangerous situation.

You are requested to take urgent note on this breach and provide two more alternate dedicated telephone lines with staff to handle calls at night to receive the complaints of illegal mechased fishing in Goa.

Please treat this letter as an urgency and take necessary measures as required by law.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Shaila D'mello

(President)

Laximan Mangueshkar

(Secretary)

Copy to:

Chief Justice,

Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, Porvorim, Goa