Objections to the installation of Mobile Towers at Bambolim and Nauxim

Date: 26^th November 2015

To,

The Principal Secretary (Environment)

Secretariat,

Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Member-Secretary,

Goa State Pollution Control Board,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Sarpanch,

Curca-Bambolim-Nauxim Panchayat,

Tiswadi, Goa.

Subject: Objections to the installation of Mobile Towers at Bambolim and Nauxim

Dear Madam/Sir,

Bharat Mukti Morcha is shocked to note inaction of Goa State Pollution Control Board and Bambolim Panchayat on the complaints against mobile towers in Bambolim and Nauxim villages at Adea de Goa premises. Mobile towers are threat to public health due to radiation. Even though people of Bambolim are subjected to radiation due to these mobile towers local Panchayat has disclosed that these mobile towers have the approval from Goa State Pollution Control Board and hence Bambolim Panchayat has given its permissions. In a letter dated 02/11/2015 to Rohidas Andrade and other of Bharat Mukti Morcha Bambolim Sarpanch Maria Leena Da Cunha has shared that permission for the mobile tower is as per the approval from the Goa State Pollution Control Board. This means just Goa State Pollution Control Board has approved radiation emanating from mobile towers and it is alright that local people be subjected to public health risks. Ridiculous. 

Officials and their family members at Goa State Pollution Control Board are not affected by radiation from these mobile towers in Bambolim-Nauxim villages as their office is located at safe distance in Panjim and it is not expected that they should be bothered about public health of Bambolim and surrounding villages considering that influence of real estate and tourism lobby, and this is no longer a secret. Other wise NOC for two mobile towers in Bambolim and Nauxim would have been revoked the moment objections to it are filed by Bharat Mukti Morcha.

Instead we have noted that one more mobile tower has been installed in Bambolim at survey number 96 on the night of 19^th November 2015. We object this mobile tower too.

We have also witnessed installation of Ground Based Mast (GBM) to provide 4 G broadband services by Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited adjacent to NH 17 in front of Goa Medical College. So all together there are four mobile towers in the jurisdiction of Bambolim Panchayat that are major threats to public health with radiation threats. We call upon your office to take immediately revoke permissions to these mobile towers.  

So far our experience is not pleasant there are signs of state of administrative paralysis in the functioning of Goa State Pollution Control Board. It is limping due to influence of money bags and power of the corporate lobbies such as Reliance, Aldeia de Goa and Hotel Grand Hyatt. Bambolim Panchayat must not follow the example of Goa State Pollution Control Board and get itself geared pro-actively to change the situation and notify every level of environment ministry of Goa to act and get the permissions to mobile towers revoked and lodge protests.

Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon Principal Secretary (Environment) to intervene and get all the approvals to mobile towers in Bambolim – Nauxim Panchayat jurisdiction revoked immediately.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Maggie Silveira

President,

Goa State Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convener,

Cacra unit

Rohidas Andrade

Convener,

Bambolim unit

Soccoro Braganza

Convener,

Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convener,

Curca Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convener,

Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convener,

Nauxi unit

Chandrakant Lotlikar

Secretary, Bharat Mukti Morcha,

Siridao Unit

Hanuman Dias

Co-convenor

Odxel Unit

Honu Dinkar,

Co-convener,

Odxel Unit

Deu Kankonkar

Secretary,

Nauxi Unit

Bikaro Dias

Co-convener,

Odxel Unit

Yeshwant Shirodkar,

Co-convener,

Odxel Unit

Manguesh Sawant,

Co-convener,

Odxel unit

Amir Mardolkar,

Co-convener,

Nauxim Unit

Francis Coelho,

Co-convener,

Nauxim Unit

Dulba Pereira,

Co-convener,

Cacra Unit

Santosh Gauns,

Co-convener,

Cacra Unit

Sheila D’mello,

Co-convener

Cacra Unit

Santosh Kukalkar,

Co-convener

Cacra unit

Press Release on Fr.Bismarque Dias murder, mobile tower radiation, trawler and water sports threats to fishing and more

I.      Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) today observed two minutes silence in memory of Fr. Bismarque and those killed in terror attacks in Paris. BMM had a detail discussion on the shockingly torture and murder of late Fr. Bismarque Dias. BMM calls for immediate arrests and trial of those responsible for this murder. Goa Chief Minister must refrain from making irresponsible statements on Fr.Bismarque’s murder. If Chief Minister Parsekar feels incapable to admit the facts surrounding Fr. Bismarque’s murder then he must resign immediately. All Social Activists of Goa, Family members of Fr.Bismarque and People of Goa cannot be taken for granted anymore as Goans are known for what they are; as and when required they will act accordingly. As Chief Minister is holding the portfolio of Home Ministry, that doesn’t mean he can come out with statements as he is pleased with. Fr. Bismarque’s death is a murder, that too a tortured one. Manipulating the reports etc will not help. Truth will prevail that it is a murder. Long Live Fr. Bismarque’s good works for Vanxim, Tiracol, Carmona, Tuem and much more beyond. This murder has elevated Fr.Bismarque to the category of Martyr. Adeus Fr.Bismarque.

II.                    BMM calls for immediate cancellation of all the permissions for water sports activities in Zuari River granted by Captain of Ports to the officials of Hotel Grand Hyatt in Bambolim. This water sports activity in Zuari river has disrupted the fishing activities. Superintendent of Police, Coastal Security, Panjim in a letter dated 30.10.2015 to BMM has confirmed that it is the Captain of Ports that has granted the permissions for this. According to police report Captain of Ports, Government of Goa Panjim, has permitted officials of Hotel Grand Hyatt to carry on water sports activities within the area of Hyatt Bambolim Beach within 200 meters of shore to sea upto 01 Nautical Mile. This permission is not acceptable to the local Fishermen and BMM is opposed to this anti-fishing decision of the Captain of Ports and also as Hotel Grand Hyatt is fully illegal.

III.                   BMM welcomes decision of the Goa Police to increase the surveillance of Zuari River to curb illegal fishing activities as stated in this very letter. However Police letter does not mention the illegal fishing that is destructive ecology that is being carried on through trawling inspite of so many complaints from BMM.

IV.                  BMM also objects to the attempts of the Director of Fisheries Shamila Monteiro to pressurize fishermen objecting illegal trawling in Zuari River. It is well established fact that the sustained dragging of mobile gear (nets with all the weights, otterboards and chains) across the sea floor has been compared to the clear felling of tropical rainforest. These nets disturb the riverbed and alter its complexity, reduce benthic production and lead to substantial changes in benthic community structure and habitat. Moreover, these disturbed soft bottom habitats may never return to their earlier or ‘pristine’ state and often taken over by weedy species, similar to those that take over the clear felled patches in tropical rainforests.

V.                   The way Fisheries department is administrating its affairs is pathetic. Shamila Monteiro is not fit to direct this department as she told fisherman from Siridao Soccorro Braganza on 12^th November 2015 in her cabin that she is ignorant of the laws that prohibit trawlers from carrying on fishing within 5 kms from the sea shore and inside the rivers. This means Director is not even aware of the reasons as to why her department has given licenses to so many trawlers to carry on fishing in Arabian Sea and not in any of the rivers of Goa, and what could be the ecological harmful impacts trawlers are inflicting on the marine ecology.

VI.                  BMM congratulates Betul, Naqueri, Quittol, and Canaguinim in Quepem taluka coast for their opposition to the Defence expo project on Naqueri plateau on November 08, 2015 Gram Sabha meeting. The project promoted by India’s defense minister Manohar Parrikar is nothing but the land grab of 6 lakh square meters, area including runway for aircrafts. BMM is aware of the intense struggle of the people of these villages to fight land grab for Golf Course in 1993-95 period against the then Government headed by late Dr.Wilfred de Souza. Then during 2006-2007 government forcefully took over this land for Food Park but actually to be developed for 800 villas and Golf Course by London based real estate group - Claremont. Due to the public protest this land grab too did not materialized. Now another land grab is attempted in the name of Defense Expo.

VII.                 BMM extends support and solidarity with people from Betul, Naqueri, Quittol, Canaguinim and neighboring villages’ people opposing this defense expo from Cabo-da-Rama, Nuem, Velim etc. Defense expo is located on this Naqueri plateau only to deprive land to the future generation of the local residents and to drive local people to the brink of desperation and landlessness. BMM protests with the Ministry of Defense, New Delhi as well as with Indian Air Force for imposing Defense expo on Goa.

VIII.               BMM is shocked to note inaction of Goa State Pollution Control Board and Bambolim Panchayat on the complaints against mobile towers in Bambolim and Nauxim villages at Adea de Goa premises. Mobile towers are threat to public health due to radiation threats. Even though people of Bambolim are subjected to radiation due to these mobile towers local Panchayat has chosen to hide under the excuse that these mobile towers has all permissions from Goa State Pollution Control Board. Officials at Pollution Control Board are not affected by radiation due to these mobile towers and it is not expected that they should be bothered about public health of Bambolim and surrounding villages. Other wise NOC cor mobile towers would have been revoked the moment objections to it are filed. There is state of administrative paralysis in the functioning of Goa State Pollution Control Board. It is limping due to influence of money bags and power of the rich. Bambolim Panchayat must not follow the example of Goa State Pollution Control Board and get itself infested in administrative paralysis.

IX.                  BMM also note with serious concern the way democratic process has been subverted and Panchayats and Municipalities has been bypassed in granting of NOC to the Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited to install Ground Based Masts (GBMs) to provide 4 G broadband services across Goa in Panchayat and Municipality areas in adjacent to National Highways. NOC for this has been granted by the office of the Superintending Engineer PWD, Panjim. BMM is also concerned that these GBMs are entrusted with the task of surveillance by installing CCTV cameras on Highways packaged as ‘facility for general public’.

X.                   BMM also condemns high handed attitude of Bambolim Talathi Prameya P. Prabhu Miringker displayed while on site inspection of traditional path ways and public cross by Hotel Grand Hyatt on 23.10.2015 in Bambolim. Mr. Miringker was carrying on site inspection based on complaint of Rohidas Andrade to the Tiwadi mamlatdar. Mr. Miringker told Rohidas Andrade that Hotel Grand Hyatt can do anything they want and no one can object. This statement is evidence that Talathi is biased in his mindset in favour of luxury hotel. BMM considers this as mockery of democracy.

     

       Sd/-

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa State Unit

500 people sign petition to revoke permission granted to mobile towers at Bambolim and Nauxim

13th August 2015 

Inward entry given on 23rd September 2015 at 12.50 pm



To,

The Sarpanch,

Curca-Bambolim-Telaulim-Nauxim Panchayat

Tiswadi, Goa

Subject: Call to revoke N.O.C granted to Mobile towers at Bambolim and Nauxim

Dear Madam,

Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly calls upon you to immediately revoke the N.O.C. granted by you for setting up of mobile towers in Bambolim near Aldeia de Goa gate and another one at Nauxim inside the compound wall of Aldeia de Goa. In addition we have received information that third tower too is going to be installed in Nauxim village. We are surprised that you gave N.O.C. without consulting the villagers with radiation risks are imminent.

We have already submitted our protests and objections for mobile towers to Goa State Pollution Control Board, Panjim on 30th July 2015. These high capacity mobile towers will cause radiation not only to the Nauxim village but several surrounding villages such as Bambolim, Telaulim, Curca, Cacra, Siridao, Odxel etc. White invaders massacred aborigines of America through bloody wars during past 5 centuries and we aborigines of Goa are now sought to be killed through radiation from mobile towers in Nauxim and Bambolim. We will not allow it. We want all these mobile towers to be uprooted.

Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon you to immediately revoke N.O.C. granted to install mobile towers at Nauxim and Bambolim.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,
       Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade and 499 others.

Mobile towers at Aldeia de Goa Bambolim inspite of public opposition

Here are two mobile towers that has come out of the arrogance of power at Aldeia de Goa, Bambolim. In spite of public opposition these mobile towers has come about.  Goa State Pollution Control Board carried on inspection of illegal mobile towers in 27th July 2015 and on 31st July 2015 permanent mobile towers were installed one each in Bambolim and Nauxim.

Objections to the installation of Mobile Towers at Nauxi and Bambolim by Aldeia de Goa

Date: 30^th July 2015

To,

The Member-Secretary,

Goa State Pollution Control Board,

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Objections to the installation of Mobile Towers at Nauxi and Bambolim

Dear Sir,

Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly protests setting up of two mobile Towers, one each in Nauxi and Bambolim. One at Nauxi village inside the compound wall of Aldeia de Goa. We have noticed that work is in progress while the Goa State Pollution Control Board Junior Environmental Engineer Mr. Vijay Kansekar carried on the inspection 27^th July 2015 on the complaint from Bharat Mukti Morcha on mobile towers erected on movable trucks. The high capacity mobile tower with height of nearly 60 meters is under construction within compound wall of Aldeia de Goa in Nauxi.

The second mobile tower we object to is at Bambolim, outside the gate of Aldeia de Goa. Both the mobile towers are within the jurisdictions of Curca-Bambolim-Telaulim-Nauxi Panchayat.

 These two mobile towers will cause radiation not only to the Nauxi and Bambolim villages but several surrounding villages such as Telaulim, Curca, Cacra, Siridao, Odxel etc, and also fishermen fishing in Zuari River. White invaders massacred aborigines of America through bloody wars during past 5 centuries and we the aborigines of Goa – Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward classes are now sought to be killed through radiation from mobile towers in Nauxi and Bambolim.

It is an urgent need and a must to immediately revoke permission/NOC granted to setting up of permanent mobile tower at Nauxi and at Bambolim.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Signed by Rohidas Andrade and 119 others

March end fishing rights violations in Zuari

All together 15 fishing rights violations were reported on March 31, 2015 in Zuari river by trawlers fishing illegally, unsustainable practices. 9 of these violations took place in the morning at 9.15 am and the remaining 6 at 4.45 pm in the evening. Sms that was sent to media and others on this occasion read as 'Due to nexus between director of fisheries and trawlers 15 instances of illegal fishing today in Zuari river. Sack the inefficient director now.'

In the meanwhile Hotel Grand Hyatt, it is reported to have applied for the permission to set up mobile tower in its premises in Bambolim. Local people has sent in the message of objections for this due to radiation risk involved.