Calling your urgent attention to Zuari river illegal fishing

Date: 26/07/2018

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: Calling your urgent attention to Zuari river illegal fishing

Dear Madam/Sir,

We write to call your urgent attention to the illegal fishing in Zuari river by trawlers and purse seine boats in spite of government assurance to stop the same. Illegal fishing is going on within five kilometers from the shore between Siridao to Odxel in Zuari river which is a valuable fish breeding site. Illegal fishing was going on even in the month of July when fishing by trawlers and purse seine nets is banned by Goa Government. Some of dates we have documented when illegal fishing went on includes: 23/7/2018 (One trawler at 11.30 pm), 14/07/2018 (One trawler at 10.15 am) , 23/05/2018 (thirty five trawlers at 08.00 am), 22/05/2018 (four trawlers at 06.45 pm), 18/05/2018 (three trawlers at 2.00 am and five trawlers at 10.05 pm).

We have made number of representations before the State Government and also met various government officers over the past few years in this regard. On November 15, 2017 we had special joint meeting facilitated by Jennifer Monserrate, MLA, Taleigao at Secretariat, Porvorim with Fisheries Minister Vinoda Datarama Paliencar, TCP Minister Vijay Sardesai and OSD Durgadas Kamat. Fishermen delegation led by Sanjay Pereira was assured that the fine for illegal fishing will hiked from Rs.100/- to Rs.25,000/-. However till date this assurance has not been fulfilled. Patrolling has collapsed from January 2018.

We request you to raise the issue in the current session of the Goa Legislative Assembly and get the fines for illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats increased drastically and get the efficient vigilance system installed in Zuari river to stop illegal fishing by trawlers and purse seine boats forever.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

Maggie Silveira,

President, Goa Unit

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

Noah's arch anchors in Mandovi

Last Saturday July 21, 2018 at Bookworm library was time for special close up look at Mandovi River. One who guided was a professional Architect Noah Fernandes from School of Planing and Architecture, Delhi. Aided by slides Noah journeyed through geography, history, sociology, economics and ecology of mandovi river banks and mouth.  It was indeed fascinating to attend to his presentation and further participate in a discussion in a flow. Few points that figured for discussions must not be rested in the lecture room of the hosts who organized but must be given privileged position in wider public domain. With this intend we record few points of public importance that came up from this lecture and subsequent discussions.

1. Pr-Portuguese Goa had Goa's Mandovi river bank managed by Communidades. Panchayats were absent. Communidades are village organizations involved in maintaining reclaimed khazan lands used for fishing and agriculture. Few community groups that found their way in Noah's presentation includes Brahmins, Chardos, Sudras and Gaudes. One who is missing are Mahars and Chamars. What could be the reason for this miss? Were they not existing? Or were they invisible to historians? Or historians shared prejudice against them as untouchables? Were they really out of village borders and consequently out of border of history? How did mharingan (od Mahars) and mand (of Gaudas) existed side-by-side on Mandovi river banks now under Syntenta captivity leased by Santa Monica?

2. This system continued during Portuguese rule beginning from 1510. Goa's Pr-Portuguese community organization remained in tact till 1961 when India replaced Portugal rule Goa. After this community organization of communidades suffered as they were sidelined by Panchayat system of administration. Mandovi banks specially its reclaimed lands faced hasty set back.

3. Portuguese founded their capital at the banks of Mandovi at Old Goa. After the plague Old Goa city population around two lakh people were moved to Panjim in 1843. One Researcher Manuel Texeira from Portugal has observed that population of Old Goa was as big as Population of London.

4. Casinos are polluting Mandovi river. Due to high level of political pressure studies on casino pollution are neither attempted nor published. Academia has accepted political throttling.

5. Mining barges are polluting Mandovi river. Barges are operating by investing loaned money from banks in Goa. Public money are used by barges for polluting Goa's rivers. Its time these banks are listed and exposed. The data is available at Captain of Ports, Panjim. Every loaded barge is dragging river bed and aborts fish life. Several basket full of fish dies and birds eat in the middle of the river.

6. Nationalization of rivers is a threat to Mandovi. This is due to Sagarmala project that aims to construct several Jetties along the coast. Sagarmala project is meant to create investment opportunities for the bankers including European banks that are running out of opportunities in Europe due to high level of public awareness and public oppositions to infringe and inflict ecological aggression. 

7. Water sports is creating serious problems to fishermen due to release of oil from their engines. Oil is released also from Casino boats as well as mining barges. In Zuari water sports is being carried on from Hotel Grand Hyatt despite opposition. Avertano Furtado, former fisheries minister of Goa is reported by fishermen saying his hands are tied and water sports is being carried on in Zuari due to orders from Central Government in Delhi.

8. Purse seine boats are creating serious ecological hazards as tiny fish life is caught by them creating depletion of fish in Zuari river. Disruptions are caused also by trawlers in Zuari. Both are illegal and both are existing. Public attention is needed here.

9. Islands in Mandovi are formed due to sedimentation process. However it needs to be pondered as to whether sedimentation process also deposited minerals in the islands as islands are rich in minerals and Chorao island also has mining lease that is canceled. It may be possible that other factors such as earthquakes may also be responsible island formations in Mandovi. Needs further examination.

9. Banks of Mandovi had ingenious workers that maintained embankments by using soil. This practice discontinues and on Islands like Divar soil is replaced concrete funded by agriculture department without CRZ permissions. Actually it looks like a road in order to open up island for construction by escaping CRZ laws.

10. Divar coast is also affected by project of Subakar Rao related to water sports and tourism by cutting down of mangroves.

11. Vanxim island paddy fields are sold by Goa Archbishop without consulting the villagers and it is huge fraud.

12. Maps that Noah used are highly informative. We now know Candolim village was known as Khandull during Pr-Portuguese days.

Noah has opened up some deeper questions for deeper investigation and deeper remedies. We remain thankful to Noah as well as Bookworm library. Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed for Mandovi river and other rivers in Goa too.

Sebastian Rodrigues

Padi RFO Pranay Naik harassing Goa's tribal People

Urgently call up Padi RFO Pranay Naik and lodge your protest. His mobile no: 7798986166.

According to reports one tribal person from Gokuldem, Quepem, Goa named Bhiva Kust Velip has been booked for trespass into forest and cutting of trees by Range Forest Officer (RFO), Padi, Goa. Moreover according to reports RFO has asked Velip to fill up self incriminating Affidavit admitting that Velip was involved in illegal cutting of tree and willing to pay whatsoever fines imposed by the Government according to law in force and to appear before RFO whenever called. When this Freemason law did came in force in Goa. There are already three Judgments of Supreme Court of India that has termed December 1961 armed entry into Goa ordered by Indian Congress Party’s Nehru as an act of Conquest. This means that act of Padi RFO is colonial in nature.The fact that RFO goes and penalizes tribal person Bhiva Kust Velip for cutting of 12 trees, trimming of 13 trees and burning the area of government forest of Gokuldem village of Quepem Taluka on July 20, 2018

.

Shifting cultivation in forest is well known practice of tribal people all over the world based on principle of regeneration of ecology as venues of cultivation is changed after every few years and forest is allowed to regenerate. If Goa’s own tribal people are harassed this way then where is Freedom we celebrate on August 15? Where is Liberation that we celebrate on December 19? Why government diverted large amount of forest land to mining? Mining companies not only cut down trees but entire mountains razed down exported.

Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit strongly condemns act of Padi RFO to use intimidation of law against tribal people of Goa and calls for immediate halt to ongoing harassment.

Urgently call up Padi RFO Pranay Naik and lodge your protest. His mobile no: 7798986166.

Attack on Jose Oliviera at Merces

Today July 19, 2018 at  10.30 am Jose Oliveira was brutally attacked near Merces Panchayat. According to reports from Old Police Station his complaint has been received and he has been sent medical tests at Goa Medical College, Bambolim. Jose Oliveira is involved in active resistance against filling of paddy fields in Goa and complaining on various CRZ violations. Sources indicate that Oliveira was bleeding through the nose after attack in full day light. Bharat Mukti Morcha condemns this ghastly act of violence. Please call Old Goa Police Station and insist that FIR be registered in this case. Here is landline of Old Goa Police Station : 08322285301.

Second attack on Sonshi mining protester

Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit condemns second attack on Surendra Sablo Gawde early morning today July 17, 2018 in Sonshi, Sattari, Goa while on his way back home after night duty at work. He is leading protest against mining industry and has filed several petitions in Courts in Goa. Two men wearing black dresses with masks and with knives attacked him on Sonshi internal road. He managed to escape without sustaining any injury leaving his bike on the spot.

Surendra Gawade and GAKUVED Federation had filed complaint on 12.07.2018 at the Valpoi police station, office of the SP and before the ST Commission about the threat call and first attack.

Surendra Gawade and the mining affected villagers had filed petitions in the High Court, Goa Human Rights Commission and Goa ST Commission against the mining companies earlier this year for various violations by the mining companies.

No action by the Goa police or concern authorities till date. No FIR has been registered so far. It appears that all authorities are hand in gloves to intimidate Surendra Gawade and the tribal villagers of Sonshi. This incident proves collapse of constitutional machinery in Goa and rule of Manusmriti enforced deliberately for bamon supremacy and capitalism aggression.     

The very fact that in spite of nearly 2,000 personnel with Goa police Surendra is attacked by armed goons is clear sign that the command structure of goons has positive nexus with local MLA as well the Home Minister. It is totally unthinkable that when Goa has such good police system open attacks are launched against citizens. It looks as if Goa government is driving State of Goa towards civil war.

Attack on Surendra is the latest in the series of attacks witnessed recently like that on Nilesh Gaonkar and Ravindra Velip of Cavrem, Rama Kankonkar and Arturo D'Souza of Tiswadi. Lessons of history teach us that for the survival of Bamon Raj violence is actively engaged as strategy. 

Goa's home ministry even inducted special secretary who is an IAS officer Anjali Sherawat and several IPS officers and yet law and order is allowed to breach to benefit mining industry by violating Right to Life and creating fear in Society. People of Goa will be left with no option but to set Manusmriti ablaze in every vaddo of every village and city of Goa.

Jai Mulnivasi!

Acid attack on mining opponent in Honda, Sattari

Bharat Mukti Morcha, Goa Unit condemns acid attack and threats to Sonshi mining protestor. Surendra Shablo Gawde from Sonshi, Sattari, Goa leads protest against open cast iron ore mining industry that compose of Vedanta, Sesa Goa, Quenim, Salgaocars amongst others.  Surendra is currently facing intimidation and threats from unknown culprits.  On June 30, 2018 unknown Hindi speaking man dashed against Surendra on the main road in Honda, Sattari, Goa; put something in his hand on Surendra's back shoulder and then quickly apologized and went away. Surendra proceeded home and found himself uneasy at shoulder back. He asked his mother to check his back and mother found bubbles underneath his skin. Not suspecting anything serious Surendra began treating wounds with home remedies but wound was slow to heal.

Then after four days on July 04, 2018 Surendra got an internet call on his mobile without any number. Caller identified himself as the same person who has dashed against him at Honda road and thrown acid on his back. Caller did not disclose his name and address but demanded that he withdraws all the cases against mining companies filed by him in various legal authorities.

  

After this Surendra informed his collaborators and villagers, and filed complaint at Valpoi Police Station where Shivram Vaingankar is currently Police Inspector. Police did not register FIR. On July 13, 2018 Surendra was called to the Police Station and taken for medical check up at Valpoi Health Centre, Valpoi. Doctor-on-duty after examining Surendra told him that he had wasted his half an hour and henceforth not to oppose mining industry in Sonshi. Identity of this doctor needs to be traced for giving such nasty advice. Police has to investigate whether local MLA Viswajit Rane is involved in pressurizing the doctor to communicate this message to all the mining protesters in Goa.  

  

Question arises as to whether this type of attack was on any bamon or Chief Minister or Ministers or Governor or IAS officer or IPS officer or IFS officer would police be as lazy as in this case of Surendra Sablo Gawde? Or are police under order from Home Ministry to act lazy so that extra-legal agents prowling around could intimidate protesters against mining?

Bharat Mukti Morcha express total support and solidarity with Surendra Sablo Gawde and his organization - GAKUVED. Bharat Mukti Morcha calls for investigations from Cyber crime cell in order to detect identity of the culprit and enforce arrest. If Goa's Home Minister wants he can easily find identity of the culprit and master mind behind this. The problem is that Home Minister of Goa is also the Mining minister. 

   

Discuss this message with at least five people in your contact. Then form local action group wherever you are to follow up on the matter. Together lets march towards Justice, together let’s build up Peace. Let’s together destroy dominating powers against humanity and against ecology. 

Jai Mulnivasi!

Defiance against Draft CRZ notification 2018

Date: 15^th June 2018

To,

The Director,

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,

(IA-III Division)

Telefax: 011-24695340

e-mail: arvind.nautiyal@gov.in

J-615, Jal Block, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan,

Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi – 110003

Subject: Defiance against Draft CRZ notification 2018

Sir,

This is in response to the Public Notice dated 18.04.2018 on your ministry’s website with subject “Draft Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2018 – reg.” signed by Arvind Nautiyal calling for comments/ suggestions from all stakeholders within 60 days. Our comments as under:

1. Draft CRZ notification 2018 aimed at supersession of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 excludes Goa from special protection in spite of its most fragile ecology. This made us to reflect deeper after our attempts to activate CRZ laws proved futile for the State of Goa. Recently we filed one complaint with Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) against the construction of bund on the banks of Mandovi River involving cutting down of mangroves in CRZ I B. Construction work sanctioned and funded by Agriculture department, (Government of Goa) and being carried on by private contractor with supervision of Naveli-Goltim Communidade. Our investigations revealed that this work worth more than 10 crore is being carried on without CRZ clearance. RTI queries revealed that Agriculture department never sought permissions from Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). On the contrary after our complaint GCZMA carried on joint site inspection with us, prepared report but never shared with us even after requesting to do so, and more importantly did not stop the bund construction work in CRZ area. After our investigations we leaned from Mr. Nelson Azavedo, Attorney of the Naveli-Goltim Communidade that CRZ laws are illegally enforced in Goa and Government of India has no jurisdiction to govern any of the Goa’s land.

2. This peculiar situation has arisen due to different colonial history of India and Goa with differing Jurisprudence. While India was governed and ruled by British, Goa was governed by Portuguese with far different legal practice. Portuguese laws in Goa applicable till date conflict with Indian laws relating to land. Portuguese signed Foral document in 1533 with the officials of local self governing village bodies in Goa known as communidades guaranteeing their autonomy in governance of land and village administration. This is a separate history from British rule in India.

3. Even though India attained so called Independence in 1947 its Constitution clearly prescribes dependence upon laws of the British government via Article 147. This is because India was ruled by British and Goa was not. So Constitution is relevant to ex-British colony and not to Goa which was never a British colony.

4. This system continued till Goa got merged into India in December 1961 after Congress government led by Jawaharlal Nehru ordered Indian Army march into Goa on December 17^th 1961 and on 18^th December 1961 mid night Soviet Union exercised veto power over UN Security Council resolution to help India in its mission. India established the so-called control over Goa on 19^th December 1961. Though this event is known popularly as “Goa’s Liberation”, according to one of the Supreme Court of India’s Judgment relating to mining “Goa was annexed through Conquest”.

5. Prior to this conquest India had its Consulate in Goa. Goa was a separate country. With the conquest political status of Goa changed overnight from being a separate country attached to Portugal to Union territory of India. Indian rule in Goa sidelined communidades and established Panchayat rule at village level. This sadly, caused harm to the self-governing system already in place and introduced secret vote based democracy. Commundades are democracy without secret voting but open direct deliberative democracy.

6. Opinion Poll that took place in 1967 it was not whether people of Goa wanted to be part of India or to be Independent nation. Law and economics colluded to severely compromise Goa’s ecological identity.

7. This is particularly so after 30^th May 1987 when Goa was granted status as a separate State within India. The first cabinet meeting itself past tourism master plan within 24 hours of Statehood crowding Goa’s beaches with luxury hotels from North to South of Goa. This was opposed by Student organizations and Tourism Master Plan was dropped.

8. Goa faced renewed pressures on Coast from tourism lobbies after India adopted new economic policy in 1991 when Finance Minister Manmohan Singh ushered in New Economic Policy of Globalization. Several Golf Courses and Star Hotels were proposed on several beaches and land acquired but People of Goa fought back to stop at the planning stage itself. Since then people of Goa has been continuously battling to defend its shores from tourism, rivers from dredging from shipping and mountains from mining.

9. Draft Coastal Regulations Zone Notification is further intensification of this 1961 conquest of Goa, now at the behest of BJP. BJP is funded by corporate rather lavishly and it has grown to be one of the richest Political Party in the World with declared income of Rs. 1034 crore for the financial year 2016-17.

10. More dangerously, functioning of MoEF itself has been viewed with suspicion as Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has publicly stated in past that MoEF accepts bribes to grant Environmental Clearances.

11. Dr. Shailesh Nayak Committee never visited Goa to understand Goa’s  situation from mass of people. Why? 

12. If No Development Zone (NDZ) is applicable within notified Port Limits then it is applicable to Goa’s six National Waterways that are also under Jurisdiction of Mormugao Port Trust?

People of Goa are fully aware of Communidades as self-governing institutions. Government of India cannot full the People of Goa. CRZ in Goa doesn’t stand fruitful in anyway when Commuidades are true decision making bodies since time immemorial. So the issue is not of CRZ but of Freedom from Political regime that has introduced this notification to benefit corporates and banks in search of places to destroy ecology. At the end of 60 days comes 18 June which for us is a day of struggle for freedom, a day of defiance, Goa Revolution Day.

There will be a mass uprising in case these draft coastal regulation notification 2018 are finalized and enforced in Goa.

Thanking you,

Yours Sincerely,

 Sd/-

Maggie Silveira

President

Goa Unit

Copy: Member Secretary, Goa Zone Management Authority, Porvorim, Goa

Oh Jharia! Oh Fires!

In a breezy calm of Goa
I met messenger of Jharia fires
Inside the classroom informed
Coal underground, oh dear, on fire!

Story unfolds the first day of June
Jharia coal burning for many years, months and days
I lost count exactly how many
Researchers tell us exact story!

I know not exactly how many places
I know not who put matchstick
I know not who did profit

I know not who control coal mafia


Fire of Jharia voiced out a cry
in my beloved Goa,
At times Goa confronts
Adani, Jindal and Vedanta might.

I know for sure dozen villages are up in smoke
I know from source some people moved to rehabilitation sites
I know for caste based discrimination is a rampant
I know for certain; people struggle for better livelihood and Jobs.

Two colonies of Belgharia and Jagjivanpur 
are where housed rehabilitated people.
Plight of Scheduled Caste in Jagjivanpur is "living hell",
Who is responsible for this?

Scheduled Castes are indigenous people of India
How come they are treated so badly?
Who gave this name "Jagjivanpur" to rehabilitation colony?
Wasn't Jagjivan Ram a puppet used against Ambedkar?

Is it Government of India that own Coal India Limited?
Is it government of Jharkhand?
Is it Coal mafia?
Is it Politicians?

Or is it all the above and many more?
Is it mass of educated middle class keeping studied silence?
Or is it affected people for they were born?
Or is it educational and research institutions failed in their role?

Fire of hearts moves miles with plenty of smiles,
Sets ablaze many minds in many nations
Connects flames of struggles across Globe
And Goa is not excluded from fiery scope.

In Goa we our own battles on board
Yet keep corner of our heart for Jharia fire to rage on
Lets attempt to decode
Lets offer listening Ear

We desire Peace!
We desire Jharia fires off
We extend hands of Solidarity
For Jharia to be Heaven again!

For butterflies to fly again
For birds to sing again
For wild to bloom again
For Humans to sustain again.
 
Sincere wishes we share
Honest steps we initiate
Words of greetings we exchange
Oh Jharia, with Love from Goa!


Sebastian Rodrigues after inspiring presentation in Goa from Priya Wadini at Regional Science Congress, Goa

Pictures included here are selected from Google.

Call up Goa Fisheries Minister now!

Call up the Goa Fisheries Minister Vinoda Palyenkar on his mobile 9158252727 and ask him to act now to protect fisheries in Zuari and stop trawlers and purse seine boats from carrying on illegal fishing. Tell him enough is enough. On May 15, 2018 at 6.40 pm two trawlers are illegally fishing in Zuari river. 

According to reports received one mini purse seine boat bearing name Fatima with registration number 1614 cut and destroyed fishing nets of local fisherman from Odxel at Odxel coast in Zuari river. The incident occurred on May 12, 2018 between 6.30 am to 7.30 am when fisherman was fishing river. Purse seine nets are banned in rivers and within 5 kms distance from the coast. However there are frequent violations and fisheries department and coastal police are duty bound to crack down on the same. One regular notorious violator noticed is boat “Netra” registered with Goa Fisheries department.

Objections to the draft Gram Sabha rules

Date: 24^th April 2018

To,

The Director of Panchayats

and Ex-Officio Joint Secretary to the Government of Goa,

3^rd Lift, 3^rd Floor, Junta House,

Panjim, Goa

Subject: Objections to the draft rules concerning Gram Sabha meetings

Sir,

We write to object draft Rules concerning Goa Panchayat Gram Sabha meetings as notified via no.38/DP/TP/ELN/2017/2312 and published in official gazette – Govt of Goa series I No 2 dated 12^th April, 2018 regarding draft further amendment to the Goa Panchayats (Gram Sabha Meetings) Rules, 1996.

We object to one sentence in the substitution of Rule 7 as “No subject shall be discussed in such meetings besides the Agenda as approved by the Gram Sabha”.

We want to let you know that there several people in Goa who does not know to write and for them only way of expression in Gram Sabha is in speaking out their concerns. You cannot make rules like this to stop people from speaking on the spot at Gram Sabhas for it may lead to serious consequences of law and order and accumulation of unexpressed views.

We recommend that Gram Sabha meetings be kept open for discussions under A.O.B (Any Other Business) point.

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

Anthony Cardozo

Convenor, Curca Unit