Honnavar locals petitions on marauding trucks threats in Kasarkod

To,

The Panchayat Development Officer

Kasarkod Gram Panchayat,

Honnavar

Subject: Regarding the severe danger caused to Tonka residents and fishermen due to the continuous heavy-vehicle movement belonging to Honnvara Port Private Limited through our residential area

Respected Sir/Madam,

We, the residents of Kasarkod–Tonka, bring to your notice that for the past several days, Honnavara Port Private Limited has been moving very large heavy vehicles (weighing 100–150 tons) through our narrow residential road. Because of this continuous movement, we are facing the following serious problems:

1. Our houses have developed cracks.

2. The safety of our children, women, elderly people and fishermen is at high risk.

3. Due to the vibration and shaking caused by these heavy vehicles, there is constant fear and disturbance day and night.

4. The dust pollution created by these vehicles is severely affecting the health of our children and elders.

5. Due to the traffic of these heavy vehicles, the community movement and daily activities of the villagers have been badly affected.

6. The heavy-vehicle movement has also caused significant damage to the existing village road.

Because of all these issues, our entire Tonka community is experiencing stress, fear and hardship. We are extremely unhappy with this situation. Despite repeated verbal requests, the company has not taken any remedial action.

Therefore, we hereby request you to immediately do the following on behalf of the Tonka community:

Our demands:

1. Immediately stop the movement of heavy vehicles through Tonka residential roads and direct the company to use an alternative route.

2. Inspect and assess the damage caused to our houses and ensure that the company pays adequate compensation for the damage.

3. Provide a written assurance that such dangerous vehicle movement will not be allowed again in the future through the residential area.

4. Take necessary legal action against the company for violating safety and environmental norms.

We request you to take urgent action to ensure the safety, peace and wellbeing of our community.

With respect,

Tonka Community Residents

Date: 12/12/2025

Place: Tonka – Kasarkod

Copies to:

1. Hon’ble Tahsildar, Honnavar

2. Honnavar Police Station

3. Fisheries Department, Honnavar

4. Forest Department, Honnavar

 

Heavy machinery movement at Honnavar on Kasarkod beach

Heavy machinery movement was seen today at Kasarkod Beach in Honnavar today. Policeman is seen escorting the heavy vehicles meant to destroy Honnavar beach for sure. Local people at Kasarkod Beach are opposed to the Port project and their opposition in February 2025 was greeted with violent police reprisal on the villagers and arrests and detention for over 20 days at Darwad jail. 

Police repression and ecologically detective projects has come to be the hallmark of current Congress Government in Karnataka. Few weeks ago Rahul Gandhi was seen jostling with fishermen in Bihar and he cares a dam for plight of fishers in Honnavar at Kasarkod Beach.

Exact Flaws at Honnavar Port affairs at Kasarkod

 

To,

The Member Secretary

State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Karnataka

Room No. 706, 7TH Floor, 4th Gate, M.S Building, 

Bangalore-560001, Karnataka

Email: msseiaakarnataka@gmail.com 

7th October 2025

Sub: Representation pursuant to the Hon’ble Supreme Court order in Civil Appeal No. 11021/2025 dated 8th September 2025 on M/s Honnavar Port Pvt Ltd

Reference: 

1. Representation dated 18th December 2024 to your office by ‘Karvali Menugarar Karmika Sanga’ & 3 others;

2. The Hon’ble Supreme Court order in Civil Appeal No. 11021/2025 dated 8th September 2025

Respected Sir,

It is respectfully submitted that on 8th September 2025, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in Civil Appeal No. 11021/2025 (Karvali Menugarar Karmika Sanga v. SEIAA & Anr), was pleased to hold that “it is well open to the appellant to approach the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, as law so provides”, when hearing the claim of the Appellant that they have not been recognised as stakeholders and hence their grievances have not been heard, or factored in. A copy of the Hon’ble SC order is annexed as Annexure–1.

It is pertinent to state that, owing to the decision of your office to exempt the requirement of public hearing at the stage of issuance of the Terms of Reference (ToR) on 12th August 2024, the fisherfolk community has been denied its rightful opportunity to raise objections and concerns with respect to the proposed Honnavar Port. This denial was further compounded when a fresh public hearing was not conducted at the stage of issuance of the Environmental Clearance dated 31st December 2024.

It may be recalled that the affected fisherfolk along with civil society representatives had, by way of a representation dated 18th December 2024, already placed on record their specific concerns regarding the impacts of the port and its allied infrastructure. However, till date, no response has been received to the said representation. A copy of the 18th December 2024 representation is annexed as Annexure-2.

Be that as it may, and in continuation of our earlier submissions, and in compliance of the Order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court , we now seek to place before your office serious concerns and material discrepancies relating to the port project and its allied infrastructure, which directly affect the lives and livelihood of the Kasarkod fisherfolk community.

Misrepresentation of Kasarkod Fishing Port as ‘Fish Landing Centre’ in CZMP Map No. 25: It is submitted that the existing Kasarkod Fishing Port, situated in Kasarkod village on the left banks of the Sharavathi river, has been erroneously shown as a ‘Fish Landing Centre’ in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) Map No. 25. A copy of CZMP Map No. 25 is annexed as Annexure-3. 

In contrast, the small fish landing area at Honnavar side (on the right bank of Sharavathi river) has been incorrectly demarcated as a ‘Fishing Port’. 

Information obtained under RTI confirms that, by Government Order No. AHF 51 SFS 2015, Bangalore, dated 15th September 2016, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, in exercise of its powers under Section 2(g) of the Karnataka Marine Fisheries (Regulation) Act, 1986, has formally declared Kasarkod Harbour, Honnavar, as a ‘Fishing Port’.

Furthermore, the Government Order dated 15th September 2016 clarifies that no ‘Fish Landing Centre’ exists in Honnavar Taluk. Therefore, the current CZMP demarcation is factually inaccurate and contrary to the official Government notification. 

It is pertinent to highlight that the CZMP Maps for the State of Karnataka prepared under CRZ Notification 2019 suffers from various shortcomings. To name a few- misrepresentation of existing fishing infrastructure, non-demarcation of fisher folk houses and coastal commons, non-demarcation of Kasarkod as Turtle nesting beach, demarcation of Port Limits covering our properties without consultation, etc. 

It is pertinent to highlight that as per Para 6 (vi) of the CRZ Notification, 2019 the State has the power to revisit the CZMP maps. The highlighted discrepancies is reason enough for such a revision.  

A copy of the RTI response inclusive of Government Order No. AHF 51 SFS 2015, Bangalore, dated 15th September 2016 is annexed as Annexure-4. 

The alignment and width of the proposed port connectivity road have undergone significant changes since the Public Hearing conducted on 27th January 2012: As per the EIA Report submitted in 2012 for obtaining Environmental Clearance, the connectivity road was proposed by expanding the existing single-lane road along the shoreline, running parallel to the coast for approximately 4 km from the project site through Kasarkod village up to National Highway-66, with a proposed width of 25 metres.

In contrast, the EIA Report submitted in 2024 now proposes an entirely different alignment. The connectivity road is planned parallel to the existing road but at an offset distance of about 100 metres, with a reduced total length of 2.58 km from NH-66 to the project site, and an increased width of 30 metres.

Further, a survey conducted in February 2025 was specifically intended to identify and demarcate households and community property within 35 metres from the High Water Mark that would be directly impacted by this revised alignment.

It is evident that there has been a substantial change in the material particulars relating to the alignment, length, and width of the port connectivity road passing through the sea shore of Kasarkod village. These alterations, introduced after the Public Hearing of 2012, constitute significant deviations that were never placed before the affected communities for consultation.

Survey of Fisherfolk Properties Impacted by 35m Wide Road Conducted in Secrecy (February 2025): It has come to light, through information obtained under the Right to Information Act from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Karwar, that a survey of fisherfolk properties falling within 35 metres of the High Water Mark was completed on 26th February 2025 and the report on the same was circulated between various Government Department by 21st May 2025. However, this report has neither been made available to the Kasarkod Gram Panchayat nor shared with the fishing unions and affected fisherfolk whose properties and livelihoods stand to be directly impacted by the proposed port access road.

It is further submitted that the survey grossly underestimates the number of infrastructures and fishing-related sheds that will be lost due to the construction of the 35-metre-wide road. RTI response dated 1st August from Deputy Commissioner, Karwar is hereto marked and annexed as Annexure-5. 

Omission of Kasarkod Village from the List of Impacted Fishing Villages in the EIA Report

It is submitted that the EIA Report (Chapter 3: Description of Environment, Table 3-35) lists 17 fishing villages along with details on the number of families, traditional fishermen families, BPL families, and fisherfolk population, purportedly sourced from the CMFRI Fishery Census Handbook 2016 for Karnataka State.

However, the details pertaining to Kasarkod village, where the proposed port project is located, have been entirely omitted in the report submitted by HPPL.

As per the CMFRI Fishery Census Handbook (2016), Kasarkod village comprises 752 fishermen families, including 719 traditional fishermen families, 696 BPL families, and a total fisherfolk population of 3,736.

It is further significant to highlight that Kasarkod village hosts the largest fisherfolk population in the entire Honnavar Taluk. The deliberate exclusion of this vital data renders the EIA report incomplete, misleading, and in violation of the requirement to present a true and comprehensive picture of the project’s social and livelihood impacts.

The report in its entirety can be accessed at the link below:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1V-GuQPbgU0jcjtgiSU651xxX5GJfB-i7?usp=sharing

 

Non-disclosure on Rehabilitation and Resettlement that it ought to arise from the road and rail connectivity: It is submitted that the proposed 2.58 km long road and 8.5 km railway network is aligned through the coastal village of Kasarkod which as per 2016 data is inhabited by 752 fisherfolk families and has a total population of 3,736 individuals. It is submitted that all these fisherfolk families in Kasarkod village were granted land by the Government of Karnataka in 1979 and were rehabilitated from flood affected village of Mallukurva. Since then, they have inhabiting on the same land and has been paying taxes and levies to the Government.  

The EIA report submitted by HPPL fails to acknowledge the existence of such a huge fisherfolk population in the nearest vicinity of the project and makes no provision for their rehabilitation and resettlement. 

In fact, Chapter 7 of the EIA report under Table 7-1: Public Hearing Action Plan, responding to a specific objection raised during the PH about the land acquisition, the proponent vehemently denies the requirement of private land acquisition and requirement of rehabilitation. Notably, the Project Engineer of the Project Proponent has himself publicly stated that 101 structures are falling on the 35 meter road being planned to be built along with the port, which indicates that there is need for rehabilitation.

Provision of Turtle Conservation Plan: The EIA Report refers to a Turtle Conservation Plan in Appendix Q, which has not been made available on the Parivesh Portal. Accordingly, it is requested if a copy of the said Turtle Conservation Plan can be shared with the undersigned.

In light of the above, it is respectfully submitted that the Honnavar Port project suffers from serious procedural lapses, misrepresentations, and material omissions that strike at the root of its validity under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), 2006 framework and the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019. The denial of public hearing, the misclassification of fishing infrastructure in the CZMP, the omission of Kasarkod village and its large fisherfolk population from the EIA, the non-disclosure of rehabilitation and resettlement obligations, and the secretive and inaccurate survey of properties cumulatively demonstrate a failure to uphold the principles of transparency, natural justice, and participatory decision-making mandated under law.

Given the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s order dated 8th September 2025, affirming our right to approach this Authority, we humbly request that the SEIAA:

Reconsider and review the Environmental Clearance granted to M/s Honnavar Port Pvt Ltd on 31st December 2024, in light of the discrepancies and omissions detailed herein;

Direct a fresh and comprehensive assessment, including mandatory public hearing, with full participation of the fisherfolk of Kasarkod and other affected villages;

Ensure a transparent re-survey of properties and infrastructures affected by the proposed 35-metre-wide port access road, with prior notice to and participation of the Kasarkod Gram Panchayat and the fishing unions; and

Take all further steps necessary to safeguard the rights, livelihoods, and environment of the Kasarkod fisherfolk community.

We, the affected fisherfolk and their union, therefore pray that this Authority act in the spirit of fairness and legality to ensure that the Honnavar Port project does not proceed at the cost of our community’s survival and the fragile coastal ecology.

Respectfully,

          Sd/-

(Rajesh Govind Tandel)

President, Karvali Menugarar Karmika Sanga 

Copy marked to:

The Additional Chief Secretary 

Government of Karnataka, 

Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, 

M.S.Building, Dr.Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore – 560 001

Email: prs-fee@karnataka.gov.in 

Director of Ports & Member (Maritime & IWT Operations)

Directorate of Ports & IWT, Baithkol, Karwar

Email: directoratep@gmail.com 

Directorate of Fisheries Government of Karnataka

3RD FLOOR, TOWER Dr, PODIUM BLOCK, 

Vishweshwaraiah Rd, Ambedkar Veedhi, Vasanth Nagar, 

Bengaluru, Karnataka 560001

Email: dfkamataka@rediffmail.com 

Deputy Commissioner, Karwar

Uttar Kanada district, Karwar-581301

Email: dckarwar@gmail.com 

Call for Kannada Translation of Keni Port EIA report

 20 August 2025

To,

Member Secretary,

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board,

Bengaluru

Email:ms@kspcb.gov.in

Subject: Call for Kannada translation of Development of All-Weather Multi-Cargo Greenfield Deepwater Port near Ankola, Dist. Uttara Kannada, Karnataka of JSW KENI PORT PRIVATE LIMITED (JSW KPPL) draft EIA Report

Sir/Madam,

It has come our attention at National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) regarding above mentioned subject.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has announced holding of Public Hearing to install JSW Port at Keni, Ankola on 22 August 2025.

It has also come to our attention that 600 page EIA Report circulated in the locality is entirely in English. Most People of the locality within 15 kms radius - we have come to know - can speak and read Kannada which incidently is also State official language. Only summery of is shared in Kannada. And summery is not equivalent to full draft EIA Report translation.

In order to ensure that Public Hearing participation is firmly grounded in full knowledge of contents of each of 600 pages of draft EIA you are advised to make available entire draft EIA Report in Kannada. Failing to do so would deprive local people access to know as exactly what the Port project is all about and in various facets affecting their lives, neighborhoods, environment and livelihoods based on nature such as fishing, agriculture, horticulture, salt pans and lots more.

In this context you are urged to kindly postpone said Public Hearing till Kannada translation is made available to affected Public.

In the absence of translation Public Hearing will be reduced a farce which we must work collectively to avoid and promote atmosphere conducive for informed consent.

Hoping for your considered attention and sensible action.

Thank you.

Yours Truly,

Dr.S.A.Rodrigues

General Secretary,

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)

Copy to:

1. Deputy Commisioner, Uttara Kannada, Karwar

Email:dckarwar@gmail.com

2. Principal Secretary (Environment), Government of Karnataka, Bengaluru

Email:prsfee@gmail.com

NFSF calls for halt to Police Repression on Fishers of Uttar Kannada coast

27 March 2025

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF) strongly supports fishing communities of Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar, Uttar Kannada. BJP was voted out in elections and Congress was elected to power during last elections. 

And now one only need to see Congress performance from Honnavar coast onwards to North Karnataka.

The way fishing communities of Tonka, Kassarkod under compulsive expulsions from the Coast with Police violence, arrests and intriguing police narrative that fishers as encroachers of Arabian Sea has all been highly objectionable conduct towards respect for fishing communities.

The way Tonka nesting site is being destroyed by Karnataka government by installing ALAN (Artificial Lighting At Night) on Tonka beach on inter-tidal space to disrupt turtle nesting is most disgusting.

The way Cartographic crimes are committed by erasing entire Tonka, Kasarkod fishing habitat from CZMP map is at best conspitorial. What is even more dangerous is that this case (original application no. 212/2024) is believed to be pending in NGT Chennai since 24 September 2024 without any date of next hearing while police are working on ground to clear off people's habitations.

Congress was good as opposition there. Now they have outsmarted BJP in brutalities towards coastal ecosystems and coastal people through violent enforcement of bharatmala - roads and Rail lines plans on Tonka beach for Sagarmala - Ports.

45 people including 07 women criminally charged on February 25, 2025 in latest wave of criminalizing fishing communities with invocation of dozen criminal sections of BNS that attracts punishments of death penalty and life sentences. Even people like Ganapati Tandel and Renuka Tandel who were in Bangalore on that day are criminally charged for crimes on Tonka beach. Raju Tandel, a young fisher from Tonka known for his complaints to Lokayukta was brutal assaulted by police before pushing him in police van. Police inflicted injuries on upper left hand of woman Rojah Tandel, injuries on upper inside thigh of senior fisher Mahmood Koya Sab. Of these 24 fishers were detain in Dharward jail for 24 days in Judicial Custody. Even Rajesh Tandel, leaders of local fisher labouer Union and the one who champions the cause of Olive Ridley turtles nesting site on Tonka beach was criminally charged yet again and jailed. Mental status of Rekha Tandel has decended into severe depressive illness due to shock over witnessing police beastiality on Tonka beating administrating brutal violence on fishers without name plates and badges on their Uniforms with masked faces. Arrested women were abandoned on roadside and hospital at mid-night by police. Conduct of hospital staff to refuse to record police inflicted injuries on  hospital case paper records is extremely dangerous collusion of State health authorities with Politically repression regime. It was dark day in the history of fisher struggle in Karnataka in 21st century.

NFSF applauds efforts of Adv. B.T.Venkatesh and his legal team to obtain bail for Tonka fishers.

NFSF has carried on site visits and offered Solidarity with fishing communities under trauma due to state repression and threats to demolish their houses to construct roads and rails on Tonka beach.

Situation is severe of these several thousand fishers who are also well known for fish drying due to unique ecological sensitivity of Tonka beach wherein mouth of Sharavathi River is known to be shifting over time by few kilometers and there is no stability to the beach as portion gets submerged in Arabian Sea water and new beach surfaces over period of time.

NSFS has petioned Deputy Commisioner of Karwar who sanctioned police actions on beaches at Keni, Ankola on 24 February 2025 and Tonka beach very next day on 25 February 2025.

NFSF has also petitioned Chief Minister of Karnataka, Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha as well as leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha expression our fierce opposition to disrupt life of fishing communities on Uttar Kannada Coast.

NSFS is monitoring the ground  zero situation minutely and have noted that CCTV cameras are installed on approach paths to the residences of Raju Tandel, Rajesh Tandel and Ganapati Tandel as surveillance measures that violated right to privacy.

NFSF has also noted large number of CRPF personell carrying on marching in the village to create situation of fear and tension to fishing communities on 26 February 2025.

NFSF considers the entire police and Port actions in Tonka and Keni not only as in contravention of the Constitution of India but also in violation to VG-SSF Guidelines to which India is signatory with commitment to protect small scale fishing communities and adoption of eco-system based approach to Fisheries.

NFSF calls for: 

1. Withdrawal of all criminal cases against fishers of Tonka, 

Kasarkod 

2. Total halt to police repression on fishers of Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar and Keni, Ankola.

3.  Stoppage to police behavior like that of SP Karwar as public relations officers of Private Ports Company calling fishers as encroachers of marine waters.

4. Transformation of colonial thinking that has imposed Ports to destroy fishing based livelihoods and marine ecology on Uttara Kannada Coast.

Sebastiao Rodrigues,

General Secretary,

NFSF

When Police shocked Tonka fishing community at Kasarkod, Honnavar notes reflections from ground zero

03 March 2025

Few more detailed gory facts about Tonka, Kasarkod Police violence has come to our attention as under:

1. On February 25, 2025 at 10.00 am Karnataka Police descended on Tonka, Kasarkod in Honnavar Taluka Taluka in Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka State in Western India. They were around 1000 personnel in uniform. 50% of them were in suspicious dress code: khaki Police uniform without their name plates and buckle numbers tagged on their shirts and with black masks covering their faces. Unusual police outfit.

2. Fishing community at Tonka Beach is in legal possession of the Coastal land from 1991 according to the knowledgeable sources. Hence are entitled to be served notice in case State Authorities need possession of the land for any purpose. So far no notices are served on any of them.

3. State Authorities are trying to take possession of the Coastal beach land at Tonka without serving notices to fishing communities by use of Police force to survey their immovable property including their land and houses for past four years.

4. This attempt has been challenged successfully by fishing communities of Tonka over this period.

5. On July 21, 2021 State administration attempted to demolish the fishing communities houses through bulldozers during heavy rains. This attempt was countered successfully by fishing communities there.

6. Local fisherman Raju Tandel filed complaint before Lokayukta, Karnataka against Assistant Director of Land Records (ADLR), Honnavar for carrying on survey in their village without serving notices to the villagers. Lokayukta took cognizance of the complaint and even indicted higher officer holding the post of Assistant Commisioner (AC) at Bhatkal in this crime. Officer went to Politicians for protection but wasn't successful. The rage accumulated against Raju Tandel was intense.

7. Raju Tandel spoke at the public protests against the illegal survey in the village with police protection and joined the group of village people to drawn themselves in waters of Arabian Sea as an expression of dissent between 10.30 am to 11.00 am. Raju was injured during this act as salty sea water entered his body; was taken to hospital where he vomited during treatment. Hospital records of 25.02.2025 notes in his case papers "alleged attempt to drawn by falling into water". After sometime with due treatment Raju Tandel was sent back and reached home at Tonka around 2.00 pm. He was resting in his house and had not taken any food intake. 

8. While Raju Tandel returned home Police were providing protection to those carrying on illegal survey of the Beach locality to mark out land with installation of cement boundary stones painted with danger red on both sides of the road and marking out houses to be demolished.

9. In the meanwhile young girl from the family of Raju Tandel named Apeksha R. Tandel gave media bite that went viral during the day. She declared that she will commit suicide in case her parents are taken in Police custody. 

10. Viral video attracted visit from Lady Assistant Commisioner, Bhatkal to her house along with 8 Policemen and team from Women and Child Welfare department along with Tehsildar, Honnavar to Raju Tandel's residence at 3.30 pm. They entered sitting room inside the house of Raju Tandel and questioned the girl assuming that she is a minor. They instructed villagers not to video film the discussions for some mysterious reasons. They wanted to know as to who tutored Apeksha to speak to media threatening suicide and and wanted to take her away from the village but did not do anything like that. 

11. Instead Lady Assitant Commisioner went out of the house to receive the phone call on her mobile phone. Villagers standing nearby heard her telling on the phone to fetch two police vans at Tonka.

12. While still inside in his house hungry Raju Tandel got a call around 4.00 pm that Police are beating up his fellow fisher neighbour Ravi Tandel. Hearing this Raju Tandel rushed out of house into the Gallery. In the gallery police caught hold of Raju Tandel and dragged him out away from the house. There they started beating him up with lathis and fists. They then pushed him on ground and kicked him with heavy police shoes. Imagine the agony Raju has gone through already. Then they dragged him around 20 meters and pushed him inside the police van and continued to beat him up. Then police closed the door and windows of the police vans and we don't know what happened to him after that. We don't know the depth of cruelty inflicted on Raju Tandel.

13. Several more fishers were beaten up like Raju, dragged and pushed inside the police van. Mangunath Pandurang Tandel was dragged from his house toilet while answering nature's call. Ragavendra Prakash Tandel was arrested from the same house as Raju Tandel. Some of these 45 people are very vulnerable financially, medically and are still languishing inside the jail at Dharwad as of on 03.03.2025 almost a week in police lock up without freedom, without bail. None of these fishers have ventured in their cannoes for their daily fishing activities.

14. Police manhandled, beaten up, bruised several women too and were taken in custody. Some of these women includes Roja Ramesh Tandel, Padmavati Hanumant Tandel, Nagamani Deepak Tandel, Parvati Mahadev Tandel, Sunita Satosh Tandel and Roshni Datta Tandel. These women were released on the city road middle of the night at 9.00 pm by police; left to find their way home on their own. Still some more women found themselves abandoned in the city hospital at 2.00 am on 26.02.2025 as police just vanished. 

15. They were taken for medical tests at Honnavar Government Hospital. Medical team at the hospital refused to treat any injuries women received due to police violence. There were bruises on faces and upper portion of women's hands when ther were violently pinched and beaten up. Hospital simply refused to put this on record. Instead hospital staff told women to tell if they got cough and fever which they were really to treat. And none had any of these sicknesses. This is a dangerous case of medical establishment colluding with police to perpetrate injustice and oppresion against fishing communities.

16. When Rekha Rajesh Tandel collapsed during protests on 25.02.2025 police refused nearby government Ambulance to be made available to take her to the hospital. Private Ambulance had to be arranged at the cost of Rs.5000/- to rush her to the hospital. A week later she is still shocked and getting treatment in ICU of the hospital while her husband Rajesh Tandel who champions turtle conservation efforts at Tonka beach is in Darward jail along with his fellow fishermen while their children are sheltered by good Samaritan somewhere at the neighbourhood.

17. While people were being taken taken into police vans to effect arrests police went on chasing people grabbed them and took away several mobile phones. Phone are not returned till date and can be termed as robbery by police personel. They did this so that there will be no video records of the constitutional violations, human rights violations. Some phone were formated immidiately to do away with video that could be used as evidence against this police action.

18. The above details indicates that fishing communities at Tonka, Kasarkod, Honnavar are subject to terrorist actions in police uniforms. There is complete collapse of police department and terrorist mindset has hijacked policing in Uttar Kannada District. Police has attracted notoriety for Karnataka Home Ministry. 

19. Urgent steps are necessary to deal with this situation. This note needs to be shared widely and acted upon. Community resisting predatory attack from Police and Port authorities needs to be supported strongly in all possible ways. Condemnation statements against Atrocities committed and reported in this note needs to be issued widely. This note needs to be studied and acted upon in various study groups across India and beyond and effective strategy chalked out to deal with various aspects and challenges in sensible and sensitive manner. 

Sebastiao Rodrigues 

General Secretary

National Platform of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)

Letter to Karwar Deputy Commisioner on Police repression at Tonka and Keni in Uttar Kannada

From:

Sebastiao Rodrigues

General Secretary,

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF),

20/4, Sil Lane, 

Kolkata - 700 015

Mobile: 9923336347

E-mail: inlandfisheries.india@gmail.com 

Date: 27 February 2025

Ref. no. NFSF/GS/Kar-01/25

To,

K. Laxmipriya

Deputy Commisioner,

Karwar,

Uttar Kannada,

Karnataka,

India 

Email: dckarwar@gmail.com 

Phone: 9483511015, 9791099097, 9449589597

Subject: Police repression against fishing communities at Keni, Ankola on 24.02.2025 and at Kasarkod, Honnavar on 25.02.2025...Regarding.

Madam,

We are constrained to draw your attention to the following two media reports:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/fishermen-and-women-jump-into-sea-to-oppose-keni-commercial-port-in-karnataka/article69257361.ece

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/protest-against-port-intensifies-in-uk-dist/articleshow/118564021.cms

We are shocked to note that your office authorised Police action on small scale fishing communities on the coast of Keni village in Ankola Taluka and in Kasarkod village in Honnavar Taluka back to back on 24 and 25 February 2025.

We have got reports that fishing communities in both the localities are fiercely opposed to the proposed Port projects and your office is providing Police protections to protect Port developers. 

We consider that it is of utmost urgency that coast is defended from such developments as it threatens not only fishing based livelihoods but also community identity as fishers. And we are already aware the irreversible damage faced by fishing communities due to Port installations in Karwar. We got to lessons from this rather than committing more such follies.

We have also received information that 45 fisher people of Kasarkod, Honnavar are criminally chared under as many as thirteen sections of BNS that attracts punishment extending to death sentence and life sentence. This is the reward State administration has bestowed upon these fishers for demonstrating their intention to protect the coast at Tonka, Kasargod that is Turtle Nesting site from permanent damage through Port project. Amongst those criminally charged includes 38 men and 07 women named in FIR registered against them at Honnavara Police station on 25.02.2025 with 0049/2025 as crime number.

What is shocking is that amongst those criminally charged includes also those who were not present to commit the offences they are supposed to have committed. The example of Ganapati Tandel and Renuka Ganapati Tandel is one of the glaring one as they were in transit from Mangalore to Bengaluru on 25.02.2025 evening flight.

The choice of names in FIR indicates malafide intention of mass criminalization of fishing communities to instill fear amongst fearless, courageous and dignified fishers of Kasarkod.

As we came to know through media reports that fishers have been in opposition to Port project for past four years it looks to be desperate attempt of State administration to tag these fishers as criminals once again. We are aware that this was attempted earlier too.

Times of India links we shared on this report has interesting conclusion that we wish to quote for you here "While the government views the port construction as a means to boost trade and commerce, fishermen fear loss of their livelihood." NFSF stands on the side of fishermen and express our total outrage againt all the intimidating tactics adopted against fishing communities both in Ankola and Honnavara coasts.

In Kasarkod 1000 Policemen were brought in to protect surveyors landside of the HTL while people gathered on the beach on inter-tidal space and water. Few Policemen were spotted without their name plates and buckle numbers on their uniforms. Additionally few Policemen covered their faces with black masks which was very suspicious act in itself as we noticed from the photos circulating on social media.

We got reports that police entered people's houses later in the evening and whisked away people to police vans to bebtaken into police custody.

We really want you to take through the labyrinths of criminality attributed to dignified fishermen and fisherwonen of Kasarkod. Here are the 13 sections of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023:

Section on fisherfolk at Tonka;

109; Attempt to murder. This attracts even life sentence.

115(2); Punishment for voluntarily causing 

hurt. This attracts one year in Prison

121(1);Voluntarily causing hurt or grivious hirt to deter public servant from his duty. This has five year jail term

 126(2); Wrongful restraint. This attracts one month imprisonment.

132; Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty. This attracts two years imprisonment. 

189(2);Unlawful assembly- Being member of 

unlawful assembly. This attracts six months jail term.

190;Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object.

191(2); Rioting- Punishment for rioting. Two years jail term.

351(3); Criminal intimidation punishment. This attracts jail sentence of seven years.

352; Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace. This attracts two years imprisonment.

49; Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made 

for its punishment.

61(2); Criminal conspiracy punishment. This attracts death sentence.

74; Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty. This attracts punishment of five years imprisonment.

And now we wish to reproduce names of fishers of Kasarkod recorded in FIR mentioned above. We start with seven women accused:

1. Parvati Datta Tandel

2. Recharge Rajesh Tandel

3. Bharati Rajesh Tandel

4. Renuka Ganapati Tandel

5. Vimala Kamalakar

6. Yashoda Devendra Tandel

7. Vishala Shantaram Tandel

And now 38 fishermen of Kasarkod accused:

1. Rajesh Govind Tandel

2. Hamja Patel

3. Raju Datta Tandel

4. Mahamad Koya Sab

5. Vivan Felison Fernandes

6. Rajesh Sheshagiri Tandel

7. Ayub Sab

8. Bhaskar Tandel

9. Ramesh Babu Tandel

10. Manjunath Devayya Tandel

11. Manoj Sheshagiri Tandel

12. Yasin Hamja Sab

13. Ganapati Tandel

14. Ramesh Manjunath Tandel

15. Manjunath Pandurang Tandel

16. Raghuvendra Prakash Tandel

17. Made Janna Tandel

18. Siyab Shaikh Kunji Sab

19. Rajesh Mohan Tandel

20. Mahammad Yahya Mohammad Sab Baba

21. Nagaraj Devappa Tandel

22. Basheer Ismail Patel

23. Mahammad Abdul Patel

24. Tamum Jameer Sab

25. Suleman G.H. Hassan

26. Siraj Hamjad Sab

27. Sachin Chandra Tandel

28. Sandeep Ramdas Tandel

29. Narasimha Nanda Tandel

30. Salman Khan Ismail Sab

31. Subray Damu Tandel

32. Harsha Pandurang Tandel

33. Kiran Ramchandra Mesta

34. Shantaram Manjunath Tandel

35. Vinay Krishna Tandel

36. Manjunath Tandel

37. Ashfaq Mahhamad Nellikum

38. Ramesh Manjunath Tandel

And the team that criminalized these fishers all have common address: Port office, Honnavar, R/o Sea Bird Road, Baithkol, Karwar, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka

The one signed as complainant is Sayinath Narayan Pednekar. And five names that appears in FIR includes Matesh Fernandes, Roshan Gunagi, Vivek Savant, Batte A.Y. and Vinayak Datta Naik. 

Please convey our strongest outrage to the Karnataka administration that has unleashed Police terror though your office against fishing communities defending their lives and fishing based livelihoods. 

We hereby call upon your office: 

1. To stop harrarrasing and criminalizing fishing communities who live dignified life though their fishing based hard labour. Neither State nor Corporate has right to expell them from the coast. 

2. To withdraw all the criminal cases filed against fishers on 25.02.2025 as mentioned above. We call upon your office to get the FIR quashed.

Fishers in Uttara Kannada deserve much better treatment than the way your office is perceiving them as criminals that are to be banished from the coast. This is indeed abuse of your office to launch something heineou against fishing communities who are first defence of our coasts. It is deeply regrettable to note the way your office is treating fishing communities in insulting manner.

Awaiting your quick and decisive response in defence of fishing communities.

Thanking you, 

Yours Truly,

Sebastiao Rodrigues

General Secretary, 

National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)

Copy to:

1. All concerned government authorities 

2. Fishing communities on the coast of Uttara Kannada District.

Brief note on my visit to Karnataka on 02 to 04 January 2025

Brief note on my visit to Karnataka on 02 to 04 January 2025. My previous visit was very short on 09 December 2024.

My visit was to the coastal areas of Uttar Kannada District in villages close to Kumta and Honnavar.

Visit started with Visit to Vannalli village in Kumta block where there are around 100 fishing cannoes carrying on small scale fishing activities. Met local leadership there and got into conversation about fishing issues. Discussion centered around two themes - inaccesibility and ignorance about government schemes and organisation of fishing communities.

Village fishing leadership then arranged my meeting with Taluka level leadership of the fishing communities wherein some insights were drawn out. It was observed that State has made funds available for cage fishing and very few have invested. It requires preliminary investment of over two lakh rupees and small scale fishers are not always in a position to invest to this extent. In fact there one example got cited during wherein an entrepreneur invested in cage fishing in river but local small scale fishers opposed and compeled the entrepreneur to abandon the project. There is certain level of hostility to cage fishing due to ecological ground etc.

Also carried on visit to Pavankurve Beach, Honnavar where Global Tenders are issued to construct Port facilities but there are no takers so far. Pavankuve Beach is adjacent to Tonka Beach separated by twin watery mouth of Badagani and Sharavati rivers. I have been informed by local inteligentiasia in Kumta that this was the spot where Timoja Naik and his team met Portuguese naval officers and successfully negotiated to attack Adil Shah empire rule in Goa early 1510. Negotiations were backed by Vijaynagar Empire whose headquarter was located in Honnavar. The negotiations changed fate of Goa on 25 November 1510 with insertion of Portuguese rule and expansion of Christianity in Goa and beyond in the East. I am grateful to Prakash Mesta for these insights.

My visit also included trip to Tonka ward in Kasarkod village in Honnavar. It's site of conflict, in fact a cold war zone. Every tiny brawl over drinks is carefully prospered into Police station to get registered as criminal offence. So far number of such cases is around 300. These are filed as a part of corporate strategy to subdue revolt against the proposed Port in the locality by increasing community stress levels. Anti-dote to this is needed. 

The local Tonka Beach covering around 96 acres of land was leased out to private company in order to construct Port in October 2010. Subsequently Public Hearing was held and after adequate manipulation MoEF granted Environmental Clearance (EC).

Tremendous opposition ensued on streets, court rooms of Bangalore High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chennai, and police stations nearby Honnavar. 20 people were arrested and jailed on 31 January 2024. They were released and got heroes' welcome by 1000 people with street parade and flower garlands. A celebration!

Tonka beack is truly unique. It's formed by acreted land after 1984. Since then fishers occupied it and turned into fish drying space. Fish drying is big business here. Fish from trawlers mainly is dried up in locality. However after the beach was leased out access was blocked by constructing wall. So the portion for fish drying shrieked drastically though not stopped.

Accretion land is newly formed land due to unusual volatility of water flow behaviour of Sharavati river. In 1984 Sharavati changed her mouth and moved northwards by four kilometers. It was dystopia year for the river. There was already one dam on the river prior to 1984. It is known as Linganamakki dam located around 100 kms away from the mouth. 1984 witnessed commissioning of second dam 45 kms obstructing the natural water flow dynamics. Its named as Gerusoppa dam. The second dam was immediate provocation according to local expert Prashantha Ramappa for which River moved her mouth. Tremendous changes in sand deposits were witnessed too. 

Tonka Beach is clean and sand white. It's favored destination of Olive Ridley turtles and it's well documented through local painstaking team in the region headed by Rajesh Tandel. 

EC of the Port project had expired. It was granted afresh on 31 January 2024 and advertisement was published in local kannada newspapers on 02 January 2025. This time there is no need to hold Public Hearing as the MOEF rules stands change. People of the coast no longer matter nor their say.

People in the region are aware that Port construction will spell doom for turtle conservation site, to verdant ecology, fishing based livelihoods and more importantly Port colonialism will set in. The first victim is going to be the locals and then the Island close to shore in Arabian Sea known locally as Basava Raja Durga Island.

Who needs the Port for handing of ore in barges? This information is not clearly visible. Careful disection of the situation however zeroes in the niddle of accusations on two corporates Jindals and Vedanta. They have commitments to extract lage amounts of ore from Karnataka and accessibility is an issue. There are protests against ore transportation from Port in Goa so industry perceived Port in Honnavar as a way out. There are various challenges the movement is facing including issues of finding reliable legal defenders in court rooms etc.

I also had some discussions on coastal situation of Karnataka coast with leadership of Khushi Parisar, Kumta and possibilities of collaboration explored.

These are some insights I picked up and needs further probing. Follow up on this note is required. Port struggles in JNPT, Vadvan, Goa, Honnavar Vijhingam needs to be linked up. This is a challenge before us.

I remain grateful to Prashantha Ramappa for his co-operation and support. He contributed his skills and expertise to make may visit not only fruitful but enjoyable too.

Sebastiao Rodrigues 

General Secretary

NFSF

Fishing Report from Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka, India

Aghanasini river in Devgi village from where Portuguese ships loaded spices to navigate into Europe

I am on visit to Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka coast past two days to get to know the coast and fishing communities. There are many river connected to Arabian Sea in this district. Four major rivers include Kali, Gangavali, Aghanashini and Shravati. Each of these river banks hosts fishing communities just like Arabian Sea coast does. I had closer interactions with fishing communities representatives at Devgi village on the banks of river Aghanishini river. This river supplies sand to real estate lobby. Fishing communities themselves are involved in sand mining. Reasons for this scenario needs further investigation.

There are around 80 fishing cannoes in the village. Fishing activities are carried on in Aghanashini river as well as in Arabian Sea. Ambiga fishing community has major presence in the village. Their significant marker is throwing of casting net into the river waters by rotating above the head with remarkable ease to catch fish. There are many more problems that village is facing including ignorance of government schemes for fishing communities as well as laws governing fishing communities.

This village of Devgi and the neighboring villages is major labour supplier to Trawlers in Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. They suffer acute exploitation. Often when Trawlers are not getting fish in their nets then owners of Trawlers put workers under stress. This leads of fights on board Trawlers. There are often incidents go unreported of incidents when workers are beaten up and thrown into the Arabian Sea waters from Goa Trawlers. Trawler owners have their Union in Goa but they don't allow workers on Trawlers to form the Union. This makes position of workers very weak. This situation requires adequate attention and way out.

Also found that people come to near-by Gokarna Beach to perform rites of purification to attain peace to the soul of their departed family member. After the rite clothes on their bodies are discarded on the beach and new ones are put on. Old clothes gets washed into the Arabian sea water. Most of these clothes has plastics in them. Lots of clothes are lying scattered on the beach too which needs to be taclked and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) enforced for clothes as well as other material disposed in waters. It's gradually turning into an issue that needs attention and sensitive yet decisive intervention.

Glass bottles, broken bottles and other plastics items are gradually crowding the sea bed and river beds and neither community nor state response to reverse the situation is forth coming. There is no awareness on SSF Guidelines, Fisheries laws or ILO Convention 188 amongst fishing communities. Educational Institutions, Panchayats and Fishing organisations representatives who were present at the meeting are requested to work as team to build up awareness and form the Union of fishing communities in North Canara district in various talukas.

Response received at the meeting as well as with meeting with individuals has been overwhelming and promising.

I did share information, vision  and perspectives from NPSSFW experience over the past eight years from 2016 till 2024 in a snapshot with examples from various Geographies of India.

My visit was ably facilitated by my colleague Prashant Ramappa of NPSSFW to whom I remain deeply grateful.

Dr. Sebastiao Rodrigues

National Council Member,

NPSSFW

29 October 2024

Report From Karnataka Coast

Report from Karnataka coast

On 02 September 2024 I had a unique privilege of visiting two coastal districts of Karnataka - Mangalore and Udupi to meet and exchange views with small scale fishing communities on behalf of NPSSFW. These are some of my observations after the visit about the status of Marine SSF communities.

Shobendra and Naguesh organised meetings at two places. In Mangalore district it was in the village of Sashihitlu while in Udupi district it was in middle of the villages of Kadipatna and Nadipatna.

Something that came very strongly to the fore during conversations at both the meetings is about fish famine in Arabian Sea. Fishers have gone empty handed with regard to the fish catch from April 2024 upto the day of meeting. Large scale fisheries that consists of LED fishing, trawling and bull trawling has triggered sharp depletion of fish on Karnataka coast. Dissatisfaction amongst fishers is increasing. State Government of Karnataka has been tacitly supporting large scale fishing vessels including fishing gears like LED that are outlawed. Bull trawling is rampant and traps even the juvenile fish of two inches size. To call this situation a disaster won't be an understatement. 

Second issue that came up at the meeting is about sharp cuts in fuel supply to small scale fishers (SSF). Coupled with this is increase in kerosene rate from Rs.35/- per litre to Rs.57/- per litre. These two factors has hit hard and placed question marks over fishing as livelihood option. Kerosene is supplied by Food department of Karnataka.

On the border of Udupi and Mangalore districts at the coast is meeting point of two rivers- Shambhavi and Nandini. It is at this point there is significant erosion of coastal land covering distance of nearly three kilometers. Soil has been washed away and sea has deposited sand into the opened up interiors. This has affected fishing communities locally at Sashihitlu village triggering variety of complications. 

The fourth issue that was raised at the meetings is about fish ban period for large scale fisheries in Karnataka that was reduced from 90 days to 60 days. It was advantageous for small scale fishers when the ban period was of 90 days. Small scale fishers would get good price and their livelihoos was comfortable as full month of August there was no competition with trawlers on fish supply. With 60 days ban SSF lost their economic advantage. Moreover they don't get any compensation during fish ban period.

Current weather is rather unusual. Sea is rough. SSF are not able to brave and venture out in waters for fishing. Trawlers, Purse seiners go out, use LED, engage in bull trawling and get fish catch. SSF gets nothing.

Sashihitlu was selected for development of Fisheries under National model scheme. It was sanctioned 7 crores of Rupees. Out of which Central government was to contribute 4 crore while State government 3 crore. Out of this fund portion of Jetty was constructed along with shelter for keeping fishing nets. However Jetty is too small and cannot accommodate all the cannoes. It is in need of urgent expansion.

There were few more problems faced by SSF were raised. Our of them was reluctance of banks to sanction loans to SSF.

Local fishers were very articulate and pitched for coastal alliance of SSF on the entire coastline of Arabian Sea from Kerala to Gujarat.

Discussion were also held on need to form Union of SSF and needed steps in this directions.

Sebastian Rodrigues,

National Council Member,

NPSSFW