Illegal fishing continues in Zuari

Date: 09^th April 2018

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Fisheries)

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Home)

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Director,

Directorate of Fisheries,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Police Inspector

Agasaim Police Station,

Agassaim, Goa

To,

The Superintendent of Police

Coastal Security,

Police Headquarters,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Deputy Superintendent of Police

Coastal Security

Ribandar, Goa

To,

The Collector (North)

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Education)

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To

The Captain of Ports

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Illegal Fishing in River Zuari

Madam/ Sir,

There are fresh spate of illegal fishing by trawlers and mini purse seine boats in Zuari river as under:

1.    Every night there is illegal fishing by trawlers and mini purse seine boats between 8.30 pm to 3.30 pm. Number of boats range between two to eight.

2.    On 30/03/2018 at 7.30 am thirty five mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing. It was Good Friday Holiday.

3.    On 29/03/2018 at 6.00 am eight mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing in Zuari.

4.    On 28/03/2018 at 10.00 pm eight trawlers carried on illegal fishing in Zuari

All the four cases mentioned above indicate failure of surveillance system of the Fisheries Department as well of Goa Police. We call upon you

1.    To immediately tighten up the security measures and stop ongoing illegalities.

2.    Efficient co-ordination between police and Fisheries department.

3.    Involve Goa University, Colleges, Schools and other educational institutions in Goa to create awareness about ethical fishing and protection of rivers from purse seine and trawler fishing which is ecologically dangerous.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade

Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convenor, Curca 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

Illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats in Zuari River and call to involve students

Date: 24^th April 2018

To,

The Speaker,

Goa Legislative Assembly,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Fisheries),

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Director of Fisheries,

Panjim, Goa,

To,

The Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security), Police Headquarters,

Panjim, Goa

To,

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (Coastal Security), Ribandar, Goa

To,

The Police Inspector,

Agassaim Police Station,

Agassaim, Goa

To,

The Leader of the Opposition,

Goa Legislative Assembly,

Porvorim, Goa

To,

MLA,

St. Andre
Constituency

To,

MLA,

Santa Cruz Constituency

To,

MLA,

Talegao Constituency,

Subject: Illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats in Zuari River and call to involve students

Madam/ Sir,

In spite of our repeated intimation to your office illegal fishing by trawlers in Zuari River continues. Here are latest trawler details: Daily between 8.30 pm to 4.00 am in the night time 4 to 5 trawlers regularly carry on illegal fishing. Then on last Sunday 22/04/2018 between 4 to 5 trawlers carried on illegal fishing during day time twice, in the morning at 8.30 am and in the night at 9.50 pm. Trawler “Netra” is one of the repeat offenders and few trawlers are without latest registration numbers from Department of Fisheries.

Here we share latest mini purse seine details: One boat carries on daily illegal fishing Zuari using banned purse seine fishing net from 5.30 am to 9.00 am and 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

We have noted that there is nil co-ordination between Coastal Security Police and Fisheries department and as a result illegal fishing which is also ecologically dangerous is thriving in Zuari river. You are requested to pay immediate attention to this problem and solve it. Your neglect may lead to situation going out of control and total collapse of law and order as well as collapse of fisheries administration in Zuari as it was on 30/03/2018 when 35 mini purse seine boats carried on illegal fishing without any hindrance from the authorities which we have already informed to Fisheries department as well as to Coastal Police via our letter dated 09^th April 2018. 

So you are requested to take identify and penalize offender trawlers and mini purse seine boats as well as take punitive action against responsible officers.

We further request you to involve students and faculty of Goa University and other educational institutions such as BITS Pilani Goa Campus, Collages, Higher Secondary schools etc in tackling this problem as Coastal Security Police as well as Fisheries department has proved to be insufficient and inefficient. We suggest the following pedagogy to engage with Students of above cited institutions:

Ø Explain nature of Zuari River with rich fish diversity back by existing studies

Ø Food Security provided by Zuari river to fishermen and fish consumers human and non-human in Goa

Ø Introduction to sustainable, ecological and ethical fishing practices such as Gillnet fishing, Pagel, Stakes, Rampon etc and general threats to it.

Ø Prevalent law regulating fishing in Goa involving Directorate of Fisheries and Coastal Security Police

Ø Success and Failures of Directorate of Fisheries and Coastal Security Police in tackling illegal fishing by Trawlers and Mini-purse seine boats in Zuari river

Ø Role of Students, Teaching Faculty and Public in tackling illegal fishing in Zuari in the face of repeated failures of Fisheries department and Coastal Security Police – Group discussions

Ø For more details on dynamics of Zuari river fishing refer to field reports and letters at folder “Fishing” at our  blog www.bharatmukti.blogspot.in

Ø Collation generated ideas and Publication of Reports by Department of Fisheries and Coastal Security jointly.

Ø From the Academic Year 2018-2019 launch long term collaboration of Directorate of Fisheries, Coastal Security Police and Education Institutions in Goa to protect and defend River Zuari ecology from illegal fishing.

Should you need our assistance then we will be glad to do so in any possible way for the sake of River Zuari, its ecology and sustainable and ethical fishing practices in Goa.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade

Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Socorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Ms. Kalpana Diukar

Co-convenor, Odxel Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convenor, Curca 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:

1.     The Vice-Chancellor,

Goa University, Taleigao, Goa

2.     Director,

BITS Pilani Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa

3.     Principal,

Fr. Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pillar, Goa

4.     Principal

Fr. Agnelo Higher Secondary School, Pillar, Goa

5.     Principal

Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Panjim, Goa

6.     Principal

Dempo College of Commerce, Panjim, Goa

7.     Principal,

St. Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim, Goa

8.     St. Joseph Vaz Institute of Education,

Cortalim, Goa

9.     Principal,

MES College, Vasco, Goa

10.                         Principal,

Don Bosco College, Panjim

11.                         Principal,

Don Bosco Higher Secondary, Panjim

12.                         Principal,

Santa Cruz Higher Secondary School, Santa Cruz

13.                         Principal,

Nirmala Institute of Education, Panjim, Goa

14.                         Principal,

Our Lady of Rosary Higher Secondary School, Dona Paula

15.                         Principal,

St. Andrews Higher Secondary School, Vasco

Waters sports excesses in Zuari river

Date: 24^th April 2018

To,

The Minister of Fisheries,

Government of Goa

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Secretary (Fisheries)

Government of Goa,

Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa

To,

The Director,

Directorate of Fisheries,

Government of Goa,

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Terms and conditions violations of water sports N.O.C for Aquasail Distribtion Co. Pvt. Ldt

Sir

We hereby bring to your notice that there has been violation of terms and conditions no. 5 in Director of Fisheries N.O.C granted to Aquasail Distribution Co. Pvt. Ltd dated 13/10/2017 bearing registration no. ENF/WS/AQUA-SAIL/2017-18/4240 at Bambolim Beach as under:

1.    Water sports boats of Aquasail were out in river at 8.00 am itself on 14/04/2018 while they are not supposed to be in river before 9.30 am as per condition no. 5.

2.    Water sports boats of Aquasail were out till late in river at 6.45 pm on 19/4/2018 even though they are supposed wind up their activities at 5.30 pm as per condition no.5 of the N.O.C cited above.

Now as per the condition no.9 we call upon you that Director of Fisheries revokes the above cited N.O.C to Aquasail Distribution Co. Pvt. Ltd. In our earlier letters to you we have asked you to do the same with regard to violation of Condition no. 01 resulting in hindrance to the fishing activities.

Hoping for your early response,

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Maggie Silveira

President, Goa State

Rohidas Andrade

Convenor, Bambolim Unit

Sanjay Pereira

Convenor, Cacra Unit

Soccorro Braganza

Convenor, Siridao Unit

Sitaram Pereira

Convenor, Odxel Unit

Milind Palkar

Convenor, Nauxim Unit

Anthony Cardozo

Convenor, Curca 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

Laximan Mangueshkar

Co-convenor, Siridao Unit

Why Goa needs to depend upon Nagpur for radiation monitoring?

Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM), Goa State expresses deep concern about the continuing absence of mobile tower radiation monitoring in the State of Goa. Since 2014 over 50 complaints including two from BMM dated 30/7/2015 and 26/11/2015 of Nauxim-Bambolim localities are with regard to mobile towers in Goa; are pending with Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) without any solution.

Goa government in the light of the public unrest formed Goa State Telecom Committee (GSTC) headed by Chief Secretary with more IAS officers functioning as Secretaries to Ministries of Urban Development, Environment, and Town and Country Planning Departments as its members.

GSTC in 2016 decided to send all the radiation related complaints from People of Goa to Telecom Enforcement, Resources & Monitoring (TERM) Cell based at Khamla Telephone Exchange in Nagpur, Maharashtra. TERM Cell as per directives from GSPCB was to carry on radiation monitoring in Goa with prior intimation to the complainants in Goa.

This monitoring never took place and TERM Cell never responded to GSPCB letter of 09/09/2016 or to its reminder letters dated 24/01/2018 and 15/03/2018 sent after follow up from BMM in person as well as via letter dated 7/2/2018.

Total incompetence in radiation monitoring has been again brought to the notice of GSTC on 15/03/2018 by Shivanand Salelkar, Superintending Engineer, GSPCB with intimation to BMM. In this connection BMM considers it is important for wider public involvement as radiation even though it is without sound, form and colour do carry lethal capacity inflict damage on life forms on plants, animals, birds and humans even though mobile companies are attempting to silence dissent by various brainwashing tactics like publicity and co-option of political leaders such as all MLAs of Goa.

Currently no one seems to the taking radiation monitoring in Goa seriously with Goa’s political decision making powers located in Panjim, New Delhi and New York playing deaf. Why State Level Telecom Monitoring Committee has not followed up on this important matter of Public Health? Why entire population of Goa has been put into risk of radiation emitted from mobile towers?

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

1.     Make all mobile towers all over Goa dysfunctional till regular monitoring mechanism for radiation monitoring is installed in Goa as Term Cell located in Nagpur is not bothered about EMR monitoring in Goa.

2.     In the event of failure to install full fledged radiation monitoring system in Goa stop mobile towers permanently and uproot existing mobile towers.

3.     Install full fledged radiation monitoring system in Goa with public participation. Set up Peoples’ radiation monitoring groups armed with radiation monitors and induct this issue in existing groups across the State of Goa.

Maggie Silveira

President

Goa State