Government of India published an extraordinary Gazette
notification Part II, section 1 on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Notification is
from Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) and mentions that The
National Waterways Act 2016 (No. 17 of 2016) of the Parliament received the
assent of the President on the 25th March, 2016. President on this
date was Pranab Mukherjee. He was present for the convocation ceremony of Goa
University in 2017.
It is recorded in the gazette notification “An Act to make
provisions for existing national waterways and to provide for the declaration of certain inland waterways to be
national waterways and also to
provide for the regulation and development of the said waterways for the
purpose of shipping and navigation and for matters connected therewith or
incidental threto.” The two objectives are highlighted in bold above.
Through this Act existing law ‘the Inland Waterways
Authority of India Act, 1985’ stands amended in its Section 2 clause (h) as “national waterway” means the
inland waterway declared by section 2 of the National Waterways Act, 2016, to
be a national waterway.
Through this Act 111 rivers of India are declared as National
Waterways. Out of which six rivers are from Goa as follows:
a.
(1) National Waterway 25: Chapora River, from Bridge at State Highway No. 124 (1 Km from
Maneri village) upto Confluence of Chapora river with Arabian Sea at Morjim.
b.
(2) National
Waterway 27: Cumberjua River, from
confluence of Cumberjua and Zuari rivers near Cortalim ferry terminal to
Confluence of Cumberjua and Mandovi rivers near Sao Martias Vidhan Parishad.
c.
(3) National Waterway 68: Mandovi River, from Bridge at Usgao to Confluence of Mandovi river
with Arabian Sea at Reis Magos.
d.
(4) National Waterway 71: Mapusa/Moide river, from Bridge at National Highway – 17 at Mapusa
to Confluence point of Mapusa and Mandovi rivers at Porvorim.
e.
(5) National Waterway 88: Sal river, from Orlim/Deusa Bridge to Confluence with Arabian Sea
at Mobor.
f.
(6) National Waterway 111: Zuari river, from Sanvordem Bridge to Marmugao Port.
Purpose
Control of these rivers from March 26, 2016 is with Inland Waterways Authority of India
based in Gurgaon, Haryana and headed by an IAS officer.
Main purpose for this authority is to carry on dredging and
other measures to make rivers deep for navigation of ships as per section 14
clause (c) of Inland Waterways
Authority of India Act 1985. Dredging of riverbed and sea bed is known to
damage biodiversity of rivers and sea, confirmed by National Green Tribunal
study carried on at MPT dredging site of Arabian Sea.
All the land attached to rivers comes under the control of
Inland Waterways Authority of India. How much distance is its jurisdiction is
not mentioned in the Act. One report online placed this figure at 500 meters
from the river. Section 2 clause (a)
states defines “appurtenant land” as “all lands appurtenant to national
waterway, whether demarcated or not”.
Authority has power to make regulations to exclude fishing
and fishermen from carrying on in National Waterways by declaring their
activities as ‘disorderly, undesirable and trespassers’ as per section 35
clause (j).
Who stands to benefit?
Main players who are responsible to get Goa’s rivers under
Inland Waterways Authority of India is mining companies. They approached this
Authority as barge transportation was chocked up as per press cuttings of
22/01/2010 made available on the Authority’s website.
Authority’s chairman visited Goa on 21/01/2010 and met up
with delegates of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Cesar Menezes and
others, Goa Barge Owners Association President Atul Jadhav and others and MPT
Chairman Praveen Agarwal. Chairman Mr. Gaur did not meet any fishers
organizations in Goa even though all the six rivers are used extensively for
fishing purpose.
According to Herald dated 22/01/2010 following is reported:
g.
“The development of inland waterways will
include extensive dredging, night navigational facilities and construction of
banks, which will compliment the ship movements along the waters.”
h.
“The Central government and IWAI together will
work on the development of inland water once it is nationalized.” Gaur said.”
i.
“The central authority however said that Goa
will have to give away its right to collect tax of Rs.100/- per tone for
carrying ore in the barges.”
The Times of India of the same date 22/01/2010 reported the
following:
j.
“Gaur said development of the Goa’s waterways
will entail dredging to provide a draft (depth) of four meters.
k.
“Strong support to nationalize Goa’s waterways
came from the Goa Barge owners association whose President, Atul Jadhav,
explained the various constrains they operate under. Barges are grounded for
days on end due to low depths, greatly reducing ore transportations in Goa, he
said.”
l.
“Official sources said the State government had
formed a committee about eight years ago to study the benefits of nationalizing
Goa’s inland waterways. The committee visited Cochin to study the development
that the NWAI had done there and concluded that Goa Waterways were much more
developed. The proposal was therefore selved.”
Gomantak Times of same date 22/01/2010 had additional bit of
info:
m.
“If Goa gets national waterways we will spend
400-500 crores required for dredging and developing riverbanks, the Chairman
added.”
Navhind Times of the same date 22/01/2010 is more detailed
in the matter as follows:
n.
Story has a title “IWAI Chairman in State, talks
held on National Waterways States”
o.
IWAI Chairman Mr. S.P.Gaur visited Goa on
21/01/2010.
p.
“Goa’s river potential to be expanded to
facilitate bigger barges to operate.”
q.
“Authority takes up drenching of the river
floors, Construction of Jetties, night navigation facilities.”
r.
“Under Inland
Vessels Act State Government retains control of rivers.”
s.
“Permission of Authority could be required to
construct bridges.”
t.
“Within 2-3 years inland waterways could be
declared national waterways.”
u.
“Government has to give consent to declare the
rivers as national waterways.”
v.
“IWAI is in Goa as various stakeholders
requested as inland waterways had got saturated and needed solution and state
government not doing anything in this regard.”
w.
“Waterways and rivers are state subjects,
usually centre doesn’t take any initiative”
x.
“IWAI chairman met chairman of GCCI Mr. Ceasar
Menezes, Barge Owner Association President Mr. Atul Jadhav, The Captain of
Ports, MPT Chairman Praveen Agarwal.”
Politics underplay
Most of the People of Goa was not aware as to what went on
from 2010 upto 2016 when Goa’s rivers were declared as National Waterways.
Press in Goa began to report only in the month of August 2016 when MLA Vijay
Sardesai began to oppose Central Government’s decision to declare six of Goa’s
rivers as National waterways. On August 09 - 10, 2016 Vijay Sardessai spoke
openly against this in the Goa Legislative Assembly claiming that this decision
was meant to satisfy interest of the Jindals, Vedanta and other corporate
interests. He formed Goa Forward Party (GFP) and opposition to Nationalization
of Goa’s rivers was one of the main election planks of the party. Party won
three seats and then joined BJP. Within few weeks GFP reversed its stand on
Nationalization of Goa’s rivers informing that Party has compromised with the central
Government. Nature of compromise is not known to the public. Vijay’s most
powerful speech in the Assembly against Nationalization of Goa’s rivers was on
August 08, 2016. He continued speaking out the next day too in the Assembly.
There were others who also spoke and amongst those includes Pandurang
Madkaikar, the then Congress MLA of Cumbharjua Constituency.
Cheap river navigation or docile Goa’s native people?
According to Amitab Verma , (Chairman of the IWAI)
“Revolution in Offing on Inland Water Transport Front”. Corporate India. May 15, 2016, P. 40-41’. Inland water transport
expansion is for two reasons: Cargo transportation in cheap manner, and for
tourism.
Chapora river and Sal river has been nationalized for the
purpose of Tourism including potential for transportation connected to 5 star
hotels and location of casinos. While the rest of rivers are known for use by
mining barges. Mapusa/Moide River is used to transport ore from Paira in
Bicholim while Mandovi and Zuari are routinely used by Barges for transporting
ore and coal. Cumbaharjua River acts as Canal joining Mandovi and Zauri
together and heavily used by mining barges.
Barges are already causing damage to Goa’s ecology
Mining barges as it are creating various kinds of problems. We
here re-produce an extract from an exclusive interview of past Chairman of MPT
Cyril George to Herald dated 17/06/2015:
People should also understand that there are
so many shipyards not following environmental laws, besides there are barges
along the Zuari river bay and each of these barges has created health hazards,
environmental hazards, besides pollution. These aspects are ignored.
Now if Chairman of MPT declares that barges along with
Shipyards are creating such a huge problems then what can be deducted when
barge fleet expands? Deduction is very simple to understand: Multiplied health
hazards, intensified environmental hazards and drastic rise in pollution.
Ecological assessment missing
The question remains: When did Goa Government gave consent
to Central Government to include six of our rivers as National Waterways? Why
People of Goa not consulted before granting consent to the central government
in this crucial aspect? What impact will dredging of Goa’s rivers will have on
ecology and livelihood of People? Did Goa Government carried on any EIA study?
If yes, why it is not discussed publicly? If No. Why? Is Goa Government so
careless towards ecology and its People?
How much tax Goa government is collecting per tone from
barges carrying ore and coal in Goa’s rivers? How much tax Central government
is collecting per tone from barges carrying ore and coal in Goa’s rivers? When
did IWAI grant permissions to construct new bridges over Mandovi and Zuari
rivers in Goa?
Coastal Villages specially sharing banks with rivers needs
to discuss this thoroughly amongst themselves. Discussions amongst only elected
members will not be sufficient as it is known fact that elected members are
co-opted by various vested interests and really do not carry public interest in
their way of dealings.
There is another serious implication to this aspect. IWAI as
per section 28 has power to enter any building, enclosed court or garden
attached to dwelling house with 24 hour notice.
More Land Acquisitions as Land grabs
As per section 26 this Authority can compulsorily acquire
land using Land acquisition laws. Pretty insane proposition indeed! There is
need to audit as to how much of Goa’s land is under Central Government control.
This is going to be an addition. Besides there is de facto control of river
bank coast of nationalized rivers with IWAI. Irrespective of the fact whether
lands are demarcated or not. This is a sophisticated form of land grab of Goa’s
rivers as well as attached lands.
Invisible fishing community
With central government’s direct control over six rivers of
Goa, Indian government has direct stake in Goa’s majority of Geography. What
are intentions of Central government and their allies in Goa is anyone’s guess.
Fishermen are told to stop fishing in rivers. Instead take up big trawler and
group of four fishermen take it on loan and move into deep sea for fishing.
Central government’s seriousness in this matter is reflected in fact that it
has crafted a full fledged scheme for this purpose named “Sagarmala”.
The question now is why should Central government go in for
nationalization of rivers ruthlessly? It is because Central government is
bought off by few corporate of the global elites who want to control the
world. Dredging of rivers is very
important step towards making the fishermen insecure and rootless. Only way
fishermen can survive is through intelligent resistance and broader networking.
Bamani betrayal
Fishermen are not Bamons. Bamons are in the decision making
positions in various parties, organizations and government. If they had to care
for the fishermen then six rivers of Goa would have never been brought under
the purview of IWAI. Bamons and their parties only used this issue to gather public
support and votes and they forget. This is what accomplished by Goa Forward
Party (GFP). Kanshi Ram has written book many years ago titled “Chamcha Age”.
It describes as to how natives of India has been made slaves of Bamon Political interests and
even if they are elected they are not willing to take any steps towards
liberation of India’s natives from clutches of Bamon Raj. Because of this
reason Goa today has government that is illegitimate government. Minority
Bamons who are foreigners to India rule over native majority of India. M.K.
Gandhi fought British because they were foreigners ruling over India.
Currently there is no Political Party in Goa Assembly that
speaks out the interest of Fishermen and fishing based livelihoods in a sincere
genuine manner.
