How tourism director attempted to bluff public that boats in Zuari are not of Aquasail

 The picture above is double motored boat for tourism of Hotel Grand Hyatt. Its nuisance for local fishermen. The boat doe not boast of Aquasail logo but below picture depicts staff members of Aquasail on 28th December 2014.

 Picture above shows fishermen with their nets on the beach. Hotel Grand Hyatt wants fishermen to be removed from the fishing activities and give beach entire to the hotel for tourism purpose.

 The above picture shows Vinod Govekar, supposed owner of Aquasail sailing boast of the company without name tag because of the protests. Also seen is Brig Puri of Aldei de Goa. In the background is Aldeia de Goa hotel that was build after Bamons like Kamats, Sinaris and Mhambrey and placing local villagers in disadvantageous position.

 Above is close up of two motor engine of the boat.

 In the background above is Nauxi village. Below is tourism boat set illegally on sail in Zuari. Director of Fisheries asked villagers to contact police to arrest the hoteliers.

Tourism-Fisheries clash in pictures from Bambolim shores

This is picture of December 28, 2014 from Bambolim coast in Zuari river. Tourism boats from Hotel Grand Hyatt cruising next to local fishermen. Fishermen has objected to fishing boats in Zuari river due to disturbance caused to fishing.

Repeated violations in Zuari river, what is the solution?

December 31, 2014 morning at 10.00 am two trawlers found to be engaged in illegal fishing activities off Cacra coast. One of the two trawlers is named ‘Netra’ owned by Tulsidas Kukalkar of Vasco. This trawlers is engaging in illegal fishing third time in December 2014. Earlier this month it was detained by fishermen at Siridao coast and documents confiscated at mid-night of 3-4 December 2014 in Zuari river. The offender is yet to be booked.

Bharat Mukti Morcha units on Zuari coast contacted Fisheries Minister as well as Director of Fisheries over their mobiles but both did not answer.  They were then informed via sms on their respective mobiles. 

Later on Director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro answered the call Bharat Mukti Morcha State and informed that she has directed coastal police at Marmagao Harbor to act against the erring trawlers in Zuari River. She also informed that from January 01^st 2015 there will be regular patrolling in Zuari River.

Trawler violation of fishing rights in Zuari

Two trawlers were fishing within 20 meters of Nauxi-Cacra-Odxel coast in Zuari river. The violations were observed at 09.45 am on Monday 29 December 2014. Fisheries Minister Avartano Furtado was called on his mobile but he did not receive the call there by disrespecting struggling people of Zuari coast. sms was sent to him urging him to act. Not sure what action he initiated. 

Director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro was also called up by Rohidas Andrade at 9.50 am. She responded saying that she is driving and asked Rodhidas to call his after 30 minutes. So much illegality continued in the meanwhile. After 30 minutes when called she did not receive Rohidas Andrade’s phone call. Sms text sent to Director of fisheries Sharmila Monteiro and the Minister of Fisheries Avertano Furtado read “two trawlers in Zuari river now. Violation of fishing rights. Act now!”  This was sent for immediate action. What action what the Minister and Director initiated is not known.

Hotel Grand Hyatt release one more boat in Zuari river, violates fishing rights

It looks Sundays are favorite day to violate fishing rights in Zuari river by Hotel Grand Hyatt. Last Sunday 21^st December 2014 it released 10 speed boats in Zuari river and got reprimanded. And this Sunday 20 seated double motor Tourism boat launched at 10.30 am on December 28, 2014 has caused provoked discontents am amongst the coastal people on Odxel-Cacra-Nauxi-Bambolim-Siridao coast. The illegally sailed through fishing rich Zuari river with tourists on board towards Arabian Sea with key officials of Aquasail on board. 

For strategic reason of baffling fishermen and government authorities the boat did no hoist aquasail banner. And this baffling worked with director of fisheries Sharmila Monteiro. After she was messaged on her mobile about the presence of tourism vessel in Zuari river she replied to Rohidas Andrade, Bharat Mukti Mocha Convener in Bambolim. The text of the message reads “We have not given noc you may contact tourism dept or police. I have found out they are not aquasail boats.” Clearly there is defect in the verification procedure adopted by the Director Sharmila Monteiro. Just because boat did not carry name plate of aquasail it does not cease to be aquasail boat when personnel involved are none other than that of aquasail. When black crow wears white mask it doesn't turn white dove. So when an aquasail boat commissioned by Hotel Grand Hyatt hides their banner they do not cease to be what they are - Aquasail.

Now the next question is as to why the onus of complaining of fishing rights violations is put on fishermen. Director of fisheries is duty bound to involve tourism department as well as police to streamline the fraud prone Hotel Grand Hyatt when it illegally sails its boats in Zuari river.  Director has committed serious dereliction of her duties.

Illegal fishing in Zuari river goes unabated

On December 24, 2014 two trawlers were sighted in the morning fishing illegally in Zuari river. In fact they carried on fishing entire December 23-24, 2014 night as per eye witness reports from Odxel-Cacra-Nauxi-Bambolim-Siridao fishermen. They at around 11.30 pm one more trawler came at the distance of 70 meters off the Cacra coast. Minister of Fisheries, Goa Government Avartano Furtado as well as Director of Fisheries, Goa Government were contacted over the phone and urged to act against illegal fishing. Minister did not respond to the phone call from fishermen, so sms was sent to him. 

Director of Fisheries was on leave and she directed the fishermen to contact Superintendent of fisheries Hrishikesh. He was contacted and trawler went away from Cacra shore at 2.30 pm. It is an adamant attitude of the Fisheries department in placing patrolling vessel in Zuari river that is leading to all the illegal fishing in Zuari river. Bharat Mukti Morcha strongly condemns the illegal fishing as well as loopholes provided by fisheries department in facilitating illegal fishing in Zuari river by refusing to station permanent patrolling vessel in the river. 

Bamani project to destroy fisheries in Zuari river?

There seems to be a political project to destroy fisheries in Goa's Zuari river. Today 23rd December there were four violations of fishing rights. One trawler named "Netra"  from Vasco belonging to Tulsidas A. Kukalkar licence no. FVL – 407/0105 – Goa dated 01/01/2004 was fishing illegally for the entire day starting from 6.30 am up to 6.30 pm. This trawler was earlier detained by fishermen in Siridao on December 4, 2014 night at 10.30 pm while fishing illegally and ripping through the fishing nets of Siridao fishermen. His season’s pass indicates that he has been authorized to carry on fishing activities in Arabian Sea and not in Zuari river. Fisheries department must invoke Goa, Daman and Diu Fisheries Regulation Act, 1980 and rules of this law of 1981 and punish the offenders immediately. When informed over the phone fisheries department at Panaji refused to act against the offending trawler. Later in the day this trawler was joined by another one. 

In the night time at around 8.30 pm two trawlers were found fishing illegally in Zuari river with lights on. When fishermen called fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado he did not answer any of the 6 calls made by fishermen from Bambolim-Cacra coastal belt. This is very irresponsible act on the part of Fisheries Minister.

This behavioral attitude is pointer to the fact that Goa Government has adopted destruction of fisheries in Zuari river as a Bamani project.  

Trawler found violating fishing rights in Zuari river

Today at 2.00 pm mechanized fishing trawler was seen trawling in Zuari river. Department of fisheries was contacted but they refused to sent patrol boast of the fisheries department. This kind of violations are bad.

Another trawler latter was also seen in Zuari river but was intercepted and pushed out of Zuari river into Arabian Sea by the patrolling boat of the fisheries department after repeated telephonic complaints was lodged with the department by the fishermen and the Bharat Mukti Morcha.

Bharat Mukti Morcha confronts Goa Director of Fisheries

Bharat Mukti Morcha led by its Goa State President Maggie Silveira today confronted the Director, department of fisheries, Goa Government on race war in Zuari river. Around 20 representatives of the fishermen from Odxel, Cacra, Nauxi, Bambolim and Siridao joined the Bharat Mukti Morcha team at the department of fisheries today. The meeting with the director Sharmila Monteiro in Panjim lasted for one hour. Number of issues were raised by Bharat Mukti Morcha pertaining to illegal fishing, mini-purse seining and water sports speed boats being released into the Zuari river by Hotel Grand Hyatt located at Bambolim beach.

Director though gave a patient hearing was non-committal on fishermen issues. Director did not commit to station permanent patrolling boat in Zuari river. Director also refused to commit herself on revoking of permission for water sports granted to Hotel Grand Hyatt's agency named Aquasail. She also remained non-committal on stopping of dangerous fishing practice called mini purse seining. Bharat Mutki Morcha will continue its agitation to support the traditional fishermen in the struggle to recover their rights and dignity.

Fresh assault on fishing rights by Hotel Grand Hyatt today

Today 21st December 2014 at around 12.30 pm Hotel Grand Hyatt released 10 water sports boats in Zuari river in an act that is flagrant violation of the fishing rights of the local fishermen. Soon the information was shared with various people in authority like the Goa Fisheries Minister Avartano Furtado and Director of Fisheries Department, Goa Government Sharmila Monteiro. Minister acted and dispatched director, fisheries on Bambolim coast for spot investigations. 

Hotel Grand Hyatt in the meanwhile got the wind of the event to follow and withdrew all its boats from the river on shore at 1.45 pm. Director visited Bambolim at 2.30 pm in spite today being Sunday that is holiday for government servants. 

Reports from Bambolim indicate that there has been an attempt from the Director of Fisheries Sharmila Monteiro to convince the fishermen that they should allow water sports boats of the Hotel Grand Hyatt in Zuari river at certain timings as if she is also the director of Hotel Grand Hyatt. Bharat Mukti Morcha objects to such attempts and condemns Fisheries director Sharmila Monteiro for treating rights and dignity of fishermen with utmost contempt by attempting compromise on fishing rights and carrying on the bamani conspiracy against mulnivasis.