The below letter indicate that Bharat Mukti Morcha latest objections to Marinas in Zuari river are sent to Goa State Pollution Control Board in Saligao.
Showing posts with label Marina. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marina. Show all posts
Friday, 15 March 2019
Wednesday, 13 March 2019
Tuesday, 12 March 2019
Friday, 1 March 2019
Objections to Marinas in Zuari river filed before Collector of North Goa
Date:
01/03/2019
To,
The Collector (North Goa),
Panjim, Goa
Subject: Objections to Marinas in Zuari river
Dear Sir/Madam,
It has come to our attention though media reports that Goa
State Pollution Control Board has approached your office to initiate process
for Public Hearing for installing marina in Zuari river off coast of Nauxi
village in Tiswadi.
We write this let you know that we continue to oppose both
the marina projects in Zuari river not only because it will adversely affect
fishing communities engaged in fishing activities but also because of the
undemocratic process of leasing out of River Zuari followed by Marmagoa Port
Trust (MPT). Without consulting fisher people dependent on Zuari river MPT
leased out 2,00,000 square meters of Zuari river bed for two marinas within 3
days (12-14, October, 2010) for 30 years each.
While the two lease deeds took enough precautions to protect
mining barge traffic in Zuari the same precautions are not taken for fishing
activities in Zuari river. In fact lease deeds makes it clear that setting up
of marina will require large scale dredging of river which will surely result
in destruction of Zuari river fisheries.
MPT carried on these lease deeds by virtue of the Central
government notification of May 24, 2000 that asserts Jurisdiction of MPT up to
Cortalim bridge. MPT is controlled by Union Ministry of Shipping. This
notification too was issued without consulting fishing communities connected to
Zuari river.
If process for marina project is initiated by holding public
hearing then it will symbolize Union Shipping Ministry’s commitment to destroy
Zuari river fisheries. Already there is lots of misery spread out to Vasco
residents due to MPT’s handling of Coal resulting in dredging of Arabian Sea as
well as Coal dust pollution. With marina in Zuari this misery will enter Zuari
river and it will destroy fisher community’s livelihoods as well as ecology
resulting in Port-led Poverty.
We also wish to convey to you that Central Government 2019
notification relating to CRZ has already set in unrest amongst fishing
communities in the State of Goa and installation of marinas will only
facilitate further escalation of tension.
The sizable affected people on Zuari river bank are also
Scheduled Tribes whose livelihoods were destroyed due to setting up of various
projects in the past resulting in no benefit to the community. Few of these
projects include Goa University, Goa Medical College, National Institute of
Oceanography, Goa International Centre etc. This development forced these
people to take up fishing. Marina spells doom to the livelihood of these
People. Should one more project of be imposed at Nauxim sacrificing adivasis
for prosperity of few rich Yacht owning tourists and five star hotels like
Hotel Grand Hyatt and Cidade de Goa that are located on Zuari river bank?
Amongst adivasis there is already nation wide unrest is underway due to eviction
threats of those living in forest landscapes. Central Government has failed to
depute lawyers to defend government law protecting Tribal People and Other
Forest Dwellers in India. This has already affected 23 lakh people all over
India. Marinas too are destined to provoke eviction of river bank tribal people
in Nauxim-Cacra villages.
People on Zuari river banks are insecure as river has been
declared as National Waterway 111 as Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)
has assertive control over riparian areas. In this context Installation of
Marinas in Zuari has been viewed as frontal attacks on the livelihood of people
particularly dependent upon fishing.
Kindly convey our objection to marinas in Zuari to the State
and Central Government.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Maggie Silveira,
President,
Goa Unit
Monday, 21 January 2019
Call to overhaul Goa Fisheries Department to meet twenty first century challenges
Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit calls for the complete
overhauling of the Department of Fisheries to successfully respond to the
enormous challenges faced by fishing community in Goa in this 21st
Century. Currently State Fisheries department is in terrible mess as evident
from the way fishing communities has been put under pressure and harassment on
the Zuari river coast.
Department of Fisheries has been terrible failure to
stop daily illegal fishing – including night fishing - by dozens of trawlers in
Zuari river within 5 kms from the coast. Department of Fisheries is in
paralyzed state to deal with illegal purse seine fishing in Zuari river with
zero enforcement. Result of all this has been complete breakdown of law and
order situation in Zuari river leading to tensions and fights. Till date, no
full time patrol vessel is introduced in Zuari river for the purpose of
enforcement in spite of repeated requests no budgetary provisions are made for
this purpose.
Department of Fisheries has also been silent in the
face of draft Tourism Master Plan and Tourism Policy - 2018 that seeks to
promote kind of tourism that will further push fishing communities and marine
ecology towards deterioration. Promotion of Marinas and water sports envisaged
in the policy are expected to spell disaster for fishing communities. Adamant
manner in which Government is pushing marina at Nauxim - - in spite of public
opposition from 2010 - is objectionable particularly the bully role to push Goa
State Pollution Control Board to initiate process for Public Hearing for Marina
at Nauxim.
Corporate driven water sports that is being carried
out from Hotel Grand Hyatt in Bambolim by Bombay based corporate Aqua sail in
Zuari river is another disastrous activity from the fishing point of view.
Bharat Mukti Morcha calls for immediate cancellation of all the permissions granted
for water sports activities in Zuari and all other rivers of Goa as speed boats
like Jetski are disrupting fishing activities by cutting of fishing nets and
oil spills in water. Declaration of Goa’s six rivers as National Waterways must
be revoked as dredging is detrimental for fishing activities.
Tuesday, 15 January 2019
Objection to Tourism master plan and tourism policy - 2018
With reference to Goa Tourism Master Pan and policy posted
at the Goa Tourism Department website at the links below is at attempt by
industry to take control of Goa's Politics and
Economy through the cunning manner.
Goa Tourism Master plan provides the framework for
implementation of the master plan that has a vision to make Goa the most preferred
destination around the year for the high spending tourists in India by 2023 and
World Class, international tourism destination by 2030.
Reading of the document reveals that the entire exercise is
orchestrated by two organisations that seeks to take control of the State of
Goa's tourism decision making by forming "Goa Tourism Board" as a
statutory autonomous body that will make promote privatisation of Goa Tourism
Development Corporation Assets and will have sort of supra status like that of
Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board formed with Chief Minister as its
Chairman.
It is proposed that Tourism Minister will be the Chairman of
the Goa Tourism Board and industry has its trickster in place in post of Vice
Chairman who will be nominated by the five industry representatives alone in
the board. Out of these five members two are named 1. President/managing
Committee member of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa 2. Goa Chamber of
Commerce and Industry. Trick that is hoped will get Goa's total tourism under
Industry control as the provisions are well laid out to enact a conspiracy. In
the absence of Minister of Tourism to chair the meeting, Vice-Chairman will do
so. Where the Tourism Minister will be sent on the day of the meeting is best
left for guessing. The point however is clear that Industry the the two named
organisations is desperate to stage coup in Goa Tourism affairs.
And all this is done for what purpose? To satisfy the
masters. And who are the masters? The rich of the world. And who are to be
enslaved? People and Land, Rivers and Ethics. And projects these guys want to
promote by centralising Goa tourism? Golf Courses, Casinos, Gaming and Marinas.
Golf Courses were opposed in Goa from 1997 onward from Canaguinim-Betul,
Amthane, Bambolim, Asvem, Morjim, Harmal, Tiracol and Vanxim. Industry Captains
through Goa Tourism Board will get Department of Tourism to go for Land
Acquisition for these projects. Casinos and Gaming will be relocated to more
suitable undisclosed location. It does not mention Zuari river for obvious
reasons and will be upgraded. Gambling and Gaming are by their essence are
morally objectionable enterprises irrespective amount of people employed or
amount of revenue earned. Casinos has to be shut down and industry must be
dismantled for it is easiest source of turning black money into white.
We have not forgotten that after mischievous leasing of
Zuari river public protests has not allowed to construct any of the two marinas
either in Nauxim or in Sancoale coast from 2010. Yet Goa Tourism Board hopes to
achieve this feat, perhaps by pushing one marina at a time, first the Nauxim
one. Instead of getting the marinas in Zuari its better to scrap the marina to
its abyss!
It is proposed that High Powered Monitoring Committee for
Tourism will be dissolved and Goa Tourism Board will take its functions. This
board will give permissions to all the tourism related events. What is left of
Panchayats? Nothing! All the command activities of Goa Tourism Development
Corporation to be handed over to private sector over the next 10 years as
advised by Goa Tourism Board!
What is stunning is that Goa Tourism Board plans to take
over functions of even Environment Ministry of regeneration of beaches. But
there is a catch there is also going to be Blue Flag Certification for beaches
something that was opposed in case of Velsao Beach following protests by
fishing communities and MLA Alina Saldanha. Goa Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (GCCI) are hardly known to do such things but they want to do such
things and then permit shacks right the edge of the beach for special people.
The people who carried on businesses on beaches has no representation on the
Goa Tourism Board as they don't find favour with industry fathers trying to
hijack Goa's tourism for the filth rich of the world.
In fact its environmental commitment is dubious as it
proposes to facilitate river cruises in in Goa's inland waterways. They no
longer even call them rivers! Even identity of nature is sabotaged. Its
waterways now after Central Government invasion of Goa's rivers turned into
waterways. It agenda is in line with Sagarmala project of constructing more
jetties on Goa's river banks.
The first sufferers in the master plan as per above
mentioned plans are going to be fishing communities who are not even
acknowledged to have been even existing anywhere in Goa! The second line of
suffers are the people of Goa who cherish fish as part of their daily staple
diet.
Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly oppose Tourism master Plan and
Tourism Policy - 2018 and calls upon all sections of society not only to oppose
by also to hold accountable all the members of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) as well as Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) for all their
past and present economic, social and environmental sins.
Tuesday, 13 September 2016
Goa Tourism Master Plan 2016: who are masters? Who are slaves?
Press release: Goa
Tourism Master Plan
This interim
tourism Master Plan and Policy was put up on website www.goatourism.gov.in on 24th August 2016
Module 3
last date for comments was 4th September 2016. Objections were to be
mailed to goatourismmasterplan@gmail.com
Public was
given 16 days for comments, pretty atrocious by any standards.
Bharat Mukti Morcha objects following and
shares here for public awareness purpose:
1.
Page
15: Consider the entire State as tourism
development area. Culture of Goa is fishing and agriculture. It must be
protected from tourism at all costs.
2.
Page
23: Fishermen Market and F&B Court
at Britona, Siridao and Mobor. Captioned as Goa’s number one source of fresh
sea food.” Domestic consumers of fish to be deprived as fish will be costly and
with demands from tourism.
3.
Page
24: High End music venue paired with
luxury lifestyle resort in Baga, Calangute and Candolim Beach with biggest
clubs in India in one of these three beaches.
4.
Page
24: High end lifestyle beach club paired
with luxury lifestyle resort at Cavelossim, Palolem, Arambol, Vagathor and
Anjuna Beach with day and night atmosphere of music.
5.
Page
25: Eco-beach (Resort): Pure Eco-beach
and Eco Resorts at Querim, Mandrem, and Morjim in Pernem and Agonda, Patnem
and Palolem, Talpona and Galgibag beach. Captioned as “Built in harmony with
nature and hence with minor impact on environment.”
6.
Page 25:
Marinas in Mandovi river at Britonna, Nauxi Bay and Chicalim. Fishermen
directly affected. There is already opposition to the same from 2010.
7.
Page
31: Cultural Events, Music day and night
atmosphere. Actually there will be drinks and food. This must not be
allowed where St. Francis Xavier walked. Old Goa is a place of religious sanctity.
This must be rejected, and Religious values must not be hurt.
8.
Page
32: Goa Multicultural experience at Old
Goa Church. Has office of the Archbishop of Goa endorsed this? Or is it
another scam like Vanxim sale? For the said purpose the Archeology Survey of
India has given permission? As it is place of complete sanctify of high
religious values.
9.
Page
36: Discovery River Cruises: Chapora
River, Cumbharjua canal, Mandovi River and Zuari River. Tourism has already
caused irreversible damage to Goa’s beaches. Fishermen are to be directly
impacted through dredging as well as tourism through boat rides.
10.
Page
37: Divar island along with eastern Goa has been demarcated for “Slow Movement Wellness centres”. There
is already one such centre in Divar that releases its effluent in Mandovi river
near Vanxim. Tourism Master Plan is silent on what is to be done with such
cases. In module 2 page nos 47 & 48 in fact names this entity as Devaaya –
Ayurveda and Nature Cure Centre. Can continues daily release of effluents in
Mandovi river part of its ethics? Part of Tourism Department ethics? Daily
release of effluents gives out obnoxious odor to people around as well as staff
of Ferry services plying between Vanxim and Divar.
11.
Page
37: Nature Sanctuaries to be opened up
for tourism. This is disruption of wild life. The question about cordoning
off access to forest for tribal people and blockade to through digging of
trenches to prevent cattle grazing of tribal people has been kept under wraps.
12.
Page
42: Waterfront Promenades (dancing floors on land at water’s edge) at
Old Goa, Chapora, Panjim, Mayem lake and Colva beach. This is a must to stop as
it would cause lot of social damage to everyone especially the youth.
13.
Page
42: Family Entertainment District
inclusive of Themed Park. Entire Pernem Taluka is marked with pointer towards
proposed Mopa Airport and termed as “District”. Goa already has two districts.
Is Pernem going to be third district? Are People of Goa taken in confidence on
declaring Pernem Taluka as third district? Captioned as “A leisure and
entertainment hub for the family offering a themed park, F&B, shopping, and
accommodation.” Pernem already has Golf Course proposal in Tiracol along with
luxury hotel of Leading Hotels. Mopa airport EIA records plans for Golf Course
in Mopa itself. Luxury hotels are shown in beaches of Pernem a Querim, Mandrem,
and Morjim.
14.
Page 43: Chapora Bay and Chicalim Bay has been
proposed as Gaming districts. This
means Panjim off shore casinos will be shifted at these two venues. Two areas
will be marked exclusively for casinos and this is direct blow to fishing
allied activities.
15.
Page
43: Up-gradation of nightlife across Goa. People of Goa must be
prepared to go without sleep. Night life must be stopped completely as it is
destruction of Youth. Many Youth are hooked on drugs due to such night life
parties. Even school students are attracted to this menace.
16.
Page
44: Golf Course at Mopa. There is
already opposition to Golf Courses in Tiracol and Vanxim. Water requirement for
maintaining of Golf Course is not mentioned.
17.
Page
48: Mass Events at Vagator beach,
Candolim beach and Shyma Prasad Indoor Stadium. Are local people consulted
before making this proposal public? We object such mass events.
18.
Page
55: Mode of Transport through water is
in direct confrontation with fishermen. Cruise Terminal at MPT is mentioned as
attracting international cruise travelers. MPT is also causing harm to local
fishermen at Khariavaddo. Then Sea based inter-state transportation of tourists
is proposed at Tiracol Fort, Chapora River Basin, Fort Aguada, Dona Paula/
Panjim-Old Goa, Mormugao Port, Colva beach, Mobor Beach/ River Sal/
Cabo-de-Rama, River Talpona/ Polem. Jetties are proposed to be built in these
venues. These Jetties then can support
Ferry Services, Catamaran Ferry, Sea Buses, Speed boats and Sea Planes to ferry
tourists.
19.
Page
55: Mopa Aiport is expected to handle
13.1 million passengers by 2036 with focus on Free Independent Travellers
(FITs). Mopa airport is not needed when Dabolim serve Goa well.
20.
Page
75 of module 2 proposes State subsidy
for Hotels as well as single window clearances. It is using public funds
for public ruin. BMM opposes the same.
Goa
government tourism department believes that people of Goa are incapable to plan
their own future and needs Swiss agency to draw up the Tourism master plan and
policy for Goa. Goa is fully equipped with qualified personalities do to the
required success oriented requirements to up lift Goa’s Development as required
by Goans.
The
nomenclature used is “Tourism Master Plan” One such Tourism Master Plan was
opposed chiefly by students and youth in 1987. Now after 29 years another one
is proposed.
Who is a
master? Who is a Slave? If there is a master plan there has to somebody who is
to be enslaved. Needlessly this nomenclature of “Master Plan” does not fit. And
target of enslavement are People of Goa, Land of Goa and Ecology of Goa.
We call upon
the People of Goa to read, study & we need to move fast and decisively to object
the Tourism Master Plan 2016. It is mentioned in that it’s a draft which could
be final – So lets go for it as committed Goans, for us & our future
Generations.
Sd/-
Maggie
Silveira
President
Goa State
Unit
Sunday, 14 February 2016
Marina objections before Goa State Pollution Control Board
11th February 2016
To,
The
Chairman,
Goa State
Pollution Control Board,
Panjim, Goa
Subject: Objections to granting of
Consent to operate and Consent to Establish to Kargwal Construction Pvt Ltd,
Mumbai and Yacht Heaven (Goa) Pvt Ltd, Vasco in Zuari River
Sir,
We have read
media reports that Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) is in the process
of granting Consent to operate and Consent to Establish under the Air Act and
Water Act. We read in press that this issue was discussed in the 119th
meeting of the GSPCB held on January 28, 2016.
We have
studied the information submitted in Form I by both the marinas project
proponents and after studying the matter arrived at the conclusion that if
marinas are set up in Zuari then there will be substantial aggression on
fishing spaces. Moreover MPT has arbitrarily claimed jurisdiction over Zuari
river in May 2000 with an notification from Union Ministry of Shipping. Not
even Goa Government was consulted before taking this decision.
Further you
must note that in the two lease deeds signed with above referred two marinas in
October 2010 Fishermen are not even acknowledged to have been existing. It has
safeguarded only the interest of mining companies by including special clause
safeguarding movement of barges during marinas construction and post construction
phase.
MPT has
leased out over 2,50,000 sq.mts of river between two low tide lines on shore in
North and South of Zuari. Over Few hundred fishermen carry on the fishing
activities in this river and support their livelihood. We are surprised that
you without consulting all the fishermen has been conducting affairs relating
to Zuari River Marinas.
We must fore
– inform you that this aggression is second aggression on the livelihood of
these people who are carrying on fishing in Zuari specially from Nauxim, Cacra,
Odxel, Bambolim areas. Most of these people were never into fishing till Goa
University was set up and the tribals cultivating horticulture were displaced
occupationally. They had no place to cultivate and hence made transition as
fishermen. People who carry on fishing are from Madkai, Aggassaim, Siridao,
Cortalim, Sancoale, Chicalim, Vasco, Dona Paula, Caranzalem, Odxel, Cacra,
Nauxim, Bambolim etc. The situation of these fishermen along with others is
already volatile as traditional fishermen are facing problems from trawlers,
mini per seining, and water sports. While these are being battled tooth and
nails, marinas is the biggest threats to
fishermen of all these and we urge you not to grant any permissions in the form
of Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate under Air Act and Water Act.
Just for the
sake of serving high-end tourists you must not push traditional fishermen
towards dead-end. Marinas are doing exactly this. There is no security and
safety to fishing from marinas. It fact it seeks to violently stop it through
the sheer nature of its existence and activities.
We call upon
your office not to grant Consent to Operate and Consent to Establish under Air
Act and Water Act. We object the construction of two Marinas in Zuari River and
has already communicated our objections to various authorities including MPT.
Thanking
you,
Yours
sincerely,
Maggie Silveira
President,
Goa State Unit
Sd/-
Sanjay Pereira
Convener,
Cacra unit
Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade
Convener,
Bambolim unit
Sd/-
Soccoro Braganza
Convener,
Siridao Unit
Sd/-
Anthony Cardozo
Convener,
Curca Unit
Sd/-
Sitaram Pereira
Convener,
Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Milind Palkar
Convener,
Nauxi unit
Sd/-
Chandrakant Lotlikar
Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Siridao Unit
Sd/-
Hanuman Dias
Co-convenor
Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Honu Dinkar,
Co-convener,
Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Deu Kankonkar
Secretary,
Nauxi Unit
Sd/-
Bikaro Dias
Co-convener,
Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Yeshwant Shirodkar,
Co-convener,
Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Manguesh Sawant,
Co-convener,
Odxel unit
Sd/-
Amir Mardolkar,
Co-convener,
Nauxim Unit
Sd/-
Francis Coelho,
Co-convener,
Nauxim Unit
Sd/-
Dulba Pereira,
Co-convener,
Cacra Unit
Sd/-
Santosh Gauns,
Co-convener,
Cacra Unit
Sd/-
Sheila D’mello,
Co-convener
Cacra Unit
Sd/-
Santosh Kukalkar,
Co-convener
Cacra unit
Copy to:
(1) Mr. Vishnu Wagh, MLA St.Andre constituency
(2) Mrs. Alina Saldanha, MLA, Cortalim Constituency
(3) Sarpanch, Curca-Bambolim Panchayat
(4) Sarpanch, Sirdidao Panchayat
(5) Sarpanch Agasaim Panchayat
(6) Sarpanch, Cortalim Panchayat
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