Date: 28th
April 2015
To,
The Chairman
Mormugao Port Trust (MPT),
Headland Sada, Mormugao, Goa
To,
The Commissioner & Secretary
(Ports)
Government of Goa,
Chamber No. 203
3rd Floor,
Secretariat,
Porvorim, Goa.
Subjects:
1. Fishing rights violations in Zuari river affecting
villagers of Odxel, Cacra, Nauxi, Bambolim, Siridao, Dona Paula, Agassaim, Goa
Velha, Cortalim, Sancoale etc due to MPT proposed marinas
2. Threat of displacement and disruption of fishing
activites to the people living on coast at Baina, Khariwada, Desterro etc near
Vasco due to aggression perpetuated by MPT plans of expansion
Sir,
At the first instance we write to you to express our complete opposition
to the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) proposed two Marinas in Zuari river to cater
to the high end tourists. One of them is in Bambolim and second one in Sancoale
as per declaration of Acting Chairman and Deputy Chairman of MPT Mr.Cyril
George to press on April 8, 2015 in Panjim. The villagers engaged in fishing
activities in Tiswadi taluka are directly affected specially from the villages
of Odxel, Cacra, Nauxi, Bambolim, Siridao, Agassaim, Goa Velha, and Dona Paula
are affected in North Goa while Sancoale, Cortalim, etc villages are affected
in South Goa. The decision of MPT to construct Marinas earlier in Nauxi was
opposed on 05 December 2010 and the links to Times of India report is here for
your ready reference:
Villagers successfully opposed this ill-conceived project
of the MPT and now after four years and four months is sought to implement the
same project all over again, this time in Bambolim and additional one at
Sancoale.
Curca-Telaulim-Bambolim Panchayat in fact passed Gram
Sabha resolution against proposed marina on January 30, 2011 on grounds that it would adversely affect the
traditional fishing activities of the villagers. The villagers also argued that
the waterfront would spell ecological disaster to the village as it require
dredging of the river and construction on the waterfront both of which would
affect the flow of water. You may access links online of the report published
in Times of India:
The village Panchayat of Curca-Telaulim-Bambolim-Nauxim
Gram Sabha on 19th April 2015 has already expressed its unanimous
opposition to the proposed Marinas in Zuari river. Why should serving high end tourists in the form of marinas spell dead
end to local fisher people on the banks of Zuari river? This is important
to answer.
Our understanding is that this decision is declaration of
war against indigenous people as first land was taken over for Goa University,
International Centre, Aldeia de Goa, Grand Hyatt, and now Zuari river too is
being taken away without our consent. Truly arrogant plus dictatorial way of
functioning intended towards complete destruction of livelihood based on
fishing threatening food security. Aldeia de Goa and Grand Hyatt are starred
hotels serving tourists and are illegitimately occupying land of local tribal
people’s homeland. This is nature of aggression perpetuated on indigenous
people of Goa in the name of tourism on land. And now this aggression on
indigenous people including ST. OBC people has been extended into Zuari river.
We have not forgotten MPT aggression on Cacra village in 1997 when it permitted
Timblos to construct Offshore Stockyard and Berth (OSB) that was opposed
successfully by the villagers.
Kindly
convey our views of firm opposition to your seniors at the Union
Ministry of Shipping as pleasure of high end tourists cannot be allowed to take
priority and push fishing communities into dead end.
At the Second instance we write to you to express our solidarity with the
people residing at Baina, Khariwada and Desterro near Vasco. These people are
living on coast and we have learnt that MPT expansion plans are all set to
prompt their eviction from the coast. Further we have also learned from the
reports in the press viz Navhind Times dated 13th April 2015 that
large number of fisher people are staying on the beach side for many
generations and MPT’s plans for expansion is directly putting their fishing
activities in jeopardy. Here is an online link for your reference:
We are aware that
Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners Co-operative Society has already served
memorandum dated 15th April 2015 to your office on 17th
April 2015 over the subject matter of fishing activities at Khariwada. The copy
of this document has been made available to Bharat Mukti Morcha. The issue was
discussed at the meeting of Bharat Mukti Morcha with fishermen’s organisations
on 21st April 2015 and decided to extend full support and solidarity
to their struggle. After studying the issue we realized that these coastal
dwellers are being sort to absorb into exploitative structures of bondage and
slavery due to expansion plans of MPT into their dwelling and fishing spaces
and we object totally to MPT plans.
These traditional
fishermen known as “Ramponkars” were carrying on the activities of fishing over
the coastal belt of Kharewada up to coast of El-Monte. Due to expansion of MPT
reaching upto Berth No.11 lots of fishing spaces are drastically reduced. And the current expansion plans will lead to
displacement of fishers as well as non-fisher people staying on the coast.
Interests of MPT are directly clashing with interests of fishing communities’
needs of dwelling, livelihood and life with dignity.
Similar fate also
awaits residents of Baina beach. From the discussions with fishermen it was
revealed that the expansion plans of MPT encompasses entire Baina bay. The
document published on Union Ministry of Shipping website titled “Perspective
Plans for Major Ports” on page 18 lists out Baina Bay and Vasco Bay development
as opportunity for MPT in scheme of SWOT analysis carried on by MPT consultants
M/s Halcrow Consulting & Ernst Young. It’s clear from this document that
what fishermen on both these shore are expressing is well grounded in reality.
There is no scope for either Goans or non-Goans to survive as evictions will be
of all and debate fermented by Goa CM Parsekar and Karnataka Minister Deshpande
on 8th April 2015 and reported next day in Tarun Bharat has no
basis. We oppose eviction of both Goans and non-Goans, legal and illegal as
both are mulnivasis of India and interpretation and implementation of law in
Goa is bended favoring rich entities like Hotel Cidade de Goa and Grand Hyatt
to give two examples..
Fisher and other people
are living on the coast of both Baina Bay as well as Vasco Bay far before MPT
was established in 1885 and CRZ law enacted in 1980s and MPT has no right to
displace them at its whims and fancies even if some have settled there later.
Bharat Mukti Morcha is aware that MPT tried unsuccessfully to get rid of
coastal people few years ago through litigations but failed. Due to this Vasco
Municipality was roped in to file cases of CRZ violations on coastal dwellers
so that they are pushed out of the beach so that MPT will have ready possession
of the Beaches. We also learned that few years ago there was move by MPT to get
these people out with the intervention of few public spirited people that move
was foiled after protests.
The above cited
document from the Ministry of Shipping, New Delhi has interesting mission and
vision statement for MPT. It reads “Mormugao Port Trust wishes to be the preferred
port for the reason, recognized for its
environmental policies, efficiency in cargo handling and services to
customers, providing quality of life for the work force and support the community.” We must let you
know that your expansion plans in Vasco
Bay, Baina Bay, Marina at Sancoale and Marina at Bambolim is opposite of
recognizing MPT for environmental policies and support to the community. These
projects are part of absurd environmental policies and completely against community.
In fact both these projects are declaration of war against the community.
Therefore Bharat
Mukti Morcha expresses total opposition to the expansion plans of MPT into
Vasco Bay, Baina Bay, Zuari River for marinas at Sancoale and Bambolim for the
reasons of displacement of the people living on the beaches and disruption of fishing
activities.
Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon you as responsible
officer of Mormugao Port Trust -that is governed by Major Port Trust Act 1963 -
to call off MPT plans of expansion into Vasco Bay and Baina Bay affecting
people at Baina, Khariwada and Destorro as well as Zuari river proposed Marinas
at Sancoale and Bambolim at the earliest.
Awaiting your early and prompt action,
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely
Sd/-
Maggie Silveira
President, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa State
Sd/-
Mohammad Saleem
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Vasco Unit
Sd/-
Sanjay Pereira
Convener, Bharat Mutkti Morcha, Cacra unit
Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Bambolim unit
Sd/-
Soccoro Braganza
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao unit
Sd/-
Anthony Cardozo
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Curca Unit
Sd/-
Sitaram Pereira
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Odxel Unit
Sd/-
Milind Palkar
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Nauxi Unit
Sd/-
Chandrakant Lotlikar
Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao Unit
Sd/-
Deu Kankonkar
Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Nauxi Unit
Sd/-
Jeronio D’Souza
Co-convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Siridao Unit
Sd/-
Vishnu Kankonkar
Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha, Bambolim Unit
