Illegal fishing in Zuari river by trawlers and mini purse seine boats

Date: 27/08/2018

To,

FRANCISCO MANUEL SILVEIRA

Member of Legislative Assembly

St. Andre Constituency,

Goa

To,

ANTONIO CAETANCO FERNANDES

Member of Legislative Assembly

ST. Cruz Constituency

Goa

To,

JENIFFER MONSERRATE

Member of Legislative Assembly

Taleigao Constituency

Goa

Subject: Illegal fishing in Zuari river by trawlers and mini purse seine boats

Madam/Sir

During last one week there has been large scale illegal fishing ongoing in Zuari river. We have informed fisheries department over the phone but response has been poor. On August 25, 2018 fishermen captured three mini purse seine boats while fishing in Zuari river. By law this confiscation should have been done by government as per Rule 3 (2) of the Goa, Daman and Diu Fisheries Rules, 1981. However this is left for fishermen to do.

Today morning there were 45 mini purse seine boats till 9.00 am in the morning. There is total collapse of fisheries administration in Zuari river. According to Rule 10(1) of the same rules “No person shall use a net the mesh size whereof is less than 24 mm for catching fish and 20 mm for catching prawns” What is the mesh size of purse seine nets? Far less. How many of them are registered with fisheries department? None.

Goa Government banned trawlers from fishing within 5 kms from the shoreline under section (2)(H) and section 4(1) of Marine Fishing Regulations Act, 1980 on July 09, 1981. Still why there is continues trawling going in Zuari river, often within 200 meters from the shore? This is because Goa Government do not carry on patrolling even though it is supposed to be done under Rule (3)(3) of the above referred rules.

In 2017 Directorate of Fisheries via notification Order no. DF/ENF/ORDER/2016-17, Official Gazette, Series II, No. 41, January 12, delegated powers to take action on illegal fishing to the following:

1.     Deputy Director, Directorate of Fisheries

2.     Superintendent of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries

3.     Assistant Superintendent of Fisheries, Directorate of Fisheries

4.     Fisheries Officer, Directorate of Fisheries

5.     Police Inspector

6.     Police Sub-Inspector

7.     Assistant Police Sub-Inspector

8.     Head Constable

9.     Mamlatdar

10.                        Joint Mamlatdar

11.                        Block Development Officer (B.D.O)

You are therefore requested to convene meeting of these officials urgently to in order to stop illegal fishing incidents occurring regularly in Zuari river.

Thanking You,

Yours sincerely,

Sebastiao Rodrigues

Convenor, Goa State

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxim Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Amir Mardolkar

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Uttam Martins

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar

Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandranath Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

Laxman Mangueshkar

Co-convenor, Siridao Unit

Copy to:

Director of Fisheries, Panjim, Goa

Eco-hostile Resolution on Goa Mining

The resolution taken unanimously passed by Goa Legislative Assembly on August 03, 2018 strongly recommending re-starting of mining in Goa is completely eco-hostile act on behalf of all elective representatives in House. However this is no shocker. Mining companies of Goa are known to be funding State and National Political Parties both ruling and opposition, their MLAs are therefore obliged to push ahead the agenda of the mining corporate. Plus several MLAs of Goa are direct and indirect beneficiaries of mining industry with open and covert business links.

Curtorim MLA Reginald Lorenco who had raised public hopes with some dissent to mining, gave in. Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha who is amongst the most sensitive and skilled having worked with late Mathany Saldanha and functioned as Goa’s Minister for Environment and Forest has betrayed for trees has no votes. Tribal Affairs Minister and Priol MLA Govind Gawde did not bother to have deeper look at the tribal communities’ expression of grievances arising from ecological damage caused by mining industry in Sonshi and Colomba. Their votes signified their co-option to the exploitative system in place.

The resolution to re-start mining in Goa completely exclude any mention to the ecological damage that mining has already caused: amount of water pumped out daily depleting ground water table, amount of forest land diverted for mining purpose, amount of trees cut down or buried alive under mining dumps, the intensity of pollution caused to the paddy fields and rivers.

On the contrary we have witnessed highly objectionable comments from the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who is also Goa’s environment Minister “Just on ground of environmental damage, is it right to stop mining activity?” Goa’s environment Minister has a mindset that is in needs of immediate correction. Can economy flourish by damaging environment? The very first meeting of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) minutes records that mining is biggest environmental pollution in Goa and barges transporting iron ore causes environmental pollution to Goa’s rivers, and massive public awareness is the need of the hour. When mining has caused such a high level of damage to Goa is it not the duty of the State government to stop mining forever and move people away from dependency on mining?

A month ago Indian Government’s Niti Ayog published study that warned of increasing shortage of fresh water in India. All water pumped out to extract ore in Goa is fresh water. Do any of the MLAs in Goa Legislative Assembly has data on how much ground water is pumped out from the legal and illegal mining pits in Goa ever since mechanization of mining in the decade of 1970s? Do they have information as to how many water bodies like wells in Sirgao has gone dry because of pumping out of ground water from mining pits? Do they have any data on how much of agriculture has been damaged due to flow of mining silt into paddy fields in Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Sanguem and Darbandora Talukas? How much unemployment and food insecurity has this created since 1970? It appears from the resolution that MLAs are only elected representatives lack moral courage and vulnerable to swings of cash and bullying.

Latest advertisements in Delhi Print media claim that mining in Goa is sustainable and eco-friendly. The extracted ore has reached shores of China, Japan, Pakistan and other countries as per records published by Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association and Goa’s ore is sustaining these foreign countries. From 1945 Goa’s ore export has contributed immensely in resurrecting Japanese economy shattered by nuclear bombings. From 2000 Goa’s major share of exports went of China. Goa’s exports sustained Japanese and Chinese economies. How mining has sustained Goa’s ecology?

In what way Goa’s mining is eco-friendly? Isn’t it repackaging of mineral farming concept? On the contrary very first minutes of GSPCB proves that mining is an eco-hostile industry causing irreversible damage to Forest, Agriculture, Horticulture and Rivers.

Former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane, Poriem MLA is worst of all for his claims of not being aware of ecological damage due to mining. He must visit Pissurlem, Sirgao, Cavrem, Bicholim, Lamgao, Colomba, Advalpal, Honda, Sonshi and meet people who are staying and are at the receiving end of the mining industry.

The resolution to re-start mining by modifying Central Government mining laws is eco-hostile decision that will inevitably lead to Goa’s ecocide.

Sebastiao Rodrigues

MLAs petioned on Zuari fishermen woes

24/2/2018

To,

Jennifer A Monserrate

MLA,

Taleigao Constituency,

House No. 167, Galli,

Taleigao, Goa

To,

Francisco Silveira,

MLA,

St. Andre Cosntituency,

House No. 38/1, Dandim,

Agacaim, Goa

To,

Antonio Caetano Fernandes,

MLA,

St. Cruz Cosntituency,

H. No. 1143, Segundo Bairro,

Santa Cruz, Tiswadi Goa

Subject: Administrative Collapse: purse seine and trawling fishing in River Zuari

Sir/Madam,

We wish to bring to your urgent attention that there is resumption of illegal mini purse seine fishing boat intrusion in Zuari River near the coast from Siridao to Odxel within one kilometer from the shore. Besides being illegal these boats are contributory factor to the depletion of fish population as they use small size nets that are not sanctioned by the Fisheries department.

On 20th evening at around 4.30 pm there were five mini purse seine boats in Zuari while on 21st February 2018 there were six mini purse seine boats carrying on illegal fishing at 6.00 am in the morning. Similarly on 22^nd February 2018 morning there were 10 mini pure seine boats in Zuai carrying on llegal fishing.

Besides these mini purse seine boats that are also five trawlers carrying on illegal fishing in the night time on daily basis from 8.00 pm to 3.00 am.

The result of these activities is not only threatened livelihood of traditional fishermen but also an important sign that Police Administration as well as Fisheries department administration in Goa is non-functional and goonda raj is in vogue. We have aleady communitcated to the Fisheries department via phone calls, sms to both Fisheries Minister, to both the deputy directors as well as writen communications. However we are not aware as to what action Fisheries department has taken after receiving communications from us.

We call for your urgent action as the MLA representing the affected fisher people with threat to livelihood, to restore law and order in River Zuari by effective and lasting crackdown on these trawlers and mini purse seine boats carrying on illegal fishing.

If they situation is not brought under control then it could snaowball into major crisis as it has already done in Malvan coast after raditional fishermen captured three trawlers from Goa and handed over to police on 12-13 February 2018 ntervening night.

We assure you of continues support.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa State

Sanjay Pereira

Convener, Cacra unit

Rohidas Andrade

Convener, Bambolim unit

Socorro Braganza

Convener, Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convener, Curca Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convener, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convener, Nauxi unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxi Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant,

Co-convener, Odxel unit

Amir Mardolkar,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar,

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello,

Co-convener, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel

Uttam Martins

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar,

Co-convenor,Bambolim Unit

Chandrakanth Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit

5

Letter to Goa Fisheries Minister objecting Goa Rivers as National Waterways

Date: 07^th February 2018

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa, Secretariat,

Porvorim, Goa

   

Subject: Objections to declaration of Goa’s Rivers as National Waterways

Sir,

We have noted that for past two months you have being carrying on series of dialogues across Goa including at Morjim and Caranzalem. One of the persistent issues raised at these meetings is about objections to declaration of Goa’s rivers as National Waterways. We wish to state as follows:

1.      We have already filed our objections with Captain of Ports on these issue on two occasions dealing in detail. However for your immediate reference we share online links to the same. The first letter is here:

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2017/11/objections-to-declaration-of-goa-rivers.html

The second letter is here: 

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2017/12/serious-objections-to-signing-any-mou.html

You may certainly know that our two complaints are mentioned in Goa Assembly reply on this issue by Ports Minister Jayesh Salgaonkar on December 18, 2017 in response to question raised by MLA Reginaldo Lourenco.

2.      Secondly we request you to read up the transcripts of the speech of MLA Vijay Sardessai in Goa Legislative Assembly delivered on 08/08/2016. He waged strongest criticism on this subject. He stated that Goa’s rivers are going to be without fish.

3.      Thirdly, we draw your attention to the highly objectionable text of draft MoU given by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to Benaulim Churchill Alemao on December 11, 2017 at Menezes Braganza Hall, Panjim in your presence. Here is an extract of this text

“Ensure unrestricted development and utilization of National Waterways by regulating the existing fishing activities carried through stake net fishing, barrier net, River gill, river cages and fishing by any registered gear. Views of local fishermen area shall however be taken into consideration before finalization of a site for development by COP and IWAI”

As a Goa’s Fisheries Minister of Goa it is your duty to defend fishing spaces as well as defend fishermen for it is favorite diet of hundreds of people of Goa. If you do not object this then effect on fishing will be severe blow. 

In the light of the above we call upon you to do the following:

1.      Write to Government of India to exclude Goa’s rivers as National Waterways as past Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has given his consent without consenting people of Goa and even Goa Cabinet.

2.      Install study mechanism in place at Goa Fisheries department to defend Fisheries. We have already submitted our letter to you dated 14/12/2017 requesting you to set up Fisheries Defense Study Cell. Here is online links to our letter to you:

http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2017/12/call-to-set-up-fisheries-defence-study.html

Kindly act swiftly or else this lead to unpredictable irreversible and dangerous consequences to Food Security in Goa. We request you to act boldly just the way you did in earlier cases of removing Director of Fisheries, banning LED fishing and bull fishing, defending fishing in Zuari River from illegal fishing by Trawlers and per seine boats.

We assure you of our co-operation and support to you.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa State

Sanjay Pereira

Convener, Cacra unit  

Rohidas Andrade

Convener, Bambolim unit

Socorro Braganza

Convener, Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convener, Curca Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convener, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convener, Nauxi unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Honu Divkar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary, Nauxi Unit

Yeshwant Shirvoikar,

Co-convener, Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant,

Co-convener, Odxel unit

Amir Mardolkar,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho,

Co-convener, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Jaya Kuttikar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Jonu Shirvoikar,

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ms. Sheila D’mello,

Co-convener, Cacra Unit

Ashok Kukalkar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Ganashyam Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel

Uttam Martins

C0-convener, Odxel Unit

Rohit Hadkonkar,

Co-convenor, Bambolim Unit
 

Sanju Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit,

Chandrakanth Rosario

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Vijay Sawant

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Ragunath Sautodkar

Co-convenor, Cacra Unit

Mahadev Andre Rosario

Co-convenor, Nauxim Unit