http://bharatmukti.blogspot.in/2015/08/scam-in-noc-for-undertaking-cage.html
Date: 06th August 2015
To,
Avertano Furtado,
The Minister of Fisheries,
Secretariat, Porvorim, Goa.
To,
The Secretary (Fisheries)
Secretariat, Porvorim,
Goa
To,
The Director of Fisheries,
Directorate of Fisheries,
Government of Goa,
Panaji, Goa.
To,
The Superintendent of Police,
Crime Branch,
Ribandar, Goa
Subject: Scam in the N.O.C. for undertaking cage farming at Navelim, Diwar,
Tiswadi at Survey no. 118/1 granted to the Champions Yacht Club
Dear Sir/ Madam,
Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon the office of the Director of Fisheries to
immediately revoke the N.O.C. for undertaking cage farming granted to the
Champions Yacht club, Gera Imperium 1, Ground Floor – G12 & G14, EDC Complex,
Patto Plaza, Panaji, Goa due to several discrepancies amounting to scam noticed
by us as follows:-
1. The letter from the Champions Yacht club dated 26/02/2015 that Director
have cited in her N.O.C letter dated 10/03/2015 has dubious character as there
are two such letters with the same date of 26/02/2015.
2. The first letter from Champions Yacht Club is dated 26/02/2015 but inward
to the Department of Fisheries, Panaji is dated 03/03/2015 with inward number
7570. The letter is signed by Hema Malini N. with no indication of her
designation in the Champions Yacht Club.
3. The second letter from the Champions Yacht Club is also dated again
26/02/2015 but inward entry to the Department of Fisheries, Panaji is
09/03/2015 with inward no.7672. That means the letter was given entry just one
day before the Director’s N.O.C for cage farming. N.O.C. was granted next day
10/03/2015. This letter is signed by Hema Malini, Sree Sai Champions Family
trust. In this letter one additional sentence appears from the first letter
namely “We also need approval to use mechanized/ non-mechanized boats to reach
these cages.”
4. The letter head used for both the letters is of Champions Yacht Club and
there is no mention of any links with Sree Sai Champions Family Trust as per
documents procured under R.T.I from the Directorate of Fisheries. Hema Malini
allias Hema Malini N appears is aware of the fraud and that’s the reason she
refrained from mentioning her designation in the Champions Yacht Club.
5. Both the letters are not identical but they are separate with the same
date 26/02/2015. It is not clear as to in response to which letter that the
Director of Fisheries has granted the N.O.C for cage farming. Hence deliberate
confusion is sought be created in this matter with vested interests at play.
6. Further R.T.I replies from the office of the village Panchayat of
Goltim-Navelim (Piedade) has revealed that the Champions Yacht Club is not
carrying on any kind of fishing activity at survey number 118/1. Panchayat is
also not aware of the date of commencement of fishing activities at survey
number 118/1. Panchayat is also unaware of the fish species used at survey no
118/1 for breeding/rearing purpose.
7. On 15th June 2015 we noticed advertisement banner of Champions group at
Ribandar near Chorao Ferry Warf and boats carrying the staff to work at
Champions Yacht Club in Divar. The advertisement banner advertised tours for
Divar as tours to Champions Island. There was also mention of website on the
banner as www.championsisland.com . This website as accessed on 16th June 2015
is about actual ongoing activities in Divar at survey no 118 as a base to carry
on tourism activities. On payment of Rs.1000/- or Rs.1,500/- per day tourist
can enjoy Fishing, Kayaking and Pontoon Boat Rides. The website also has
pictures of destroyed mangroves and many enjoying boat rides next to them.
Ironically both the letters of 26th February 2015 records “The property also
had some areas covered with mangroves, which help in providing shelter and
nutrition for wide variety of fishery.” This means mangroves are deliberately
cut down hence the sentence is in past tense. This website gallery has a
photograph of CEO of Champions Yacht Club Subhakar Rao Surapaneni himself
personally rowing in yacht for pleasure in the middle of destroyed mangroves
with one female child. Champions Yacht Club was aware of the importance of
mangroves to fishery and yet it indulged in destroying the same and evidence
posted on above mentioned website. This is a supreme demonstration of arrogance
towards fisheries, law and nature. (Has the Director of Fisheries carried on
site inspection before granting of N.O.C. considering that inward was done on
9th February 2015 and N.O.C granted next day?)
8. The exact quote from this website is “Island: Picnic + Water Sports Rs.
1,000/- per person. 300 yards off the shores of Ribandar, this open ocean
playground is stocked with unlimited exiting water sports activities: Kayaks,
Paddle boats, Car boats, Swan rides, Fishing, Soft drinks, snacks and water
bottle. Time slots12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, 3 pm & 4 pm Pick up point: Ribandar
Jetty.” This Jetty is used by Public plying ferry to Chorao. Tourists are also
shown as indulging in fishing activities in open waters of Mandovi river on
Yachts. On ground investigation at survey number 118/1 revealed that hard
liquor along with beer is continuesly being sold to the visiting tourists.
9. N.O.C from the Director of Fisheries has been used for tourism purpose.
The website mentioned on the letterhead to make two dubious letter of 26th
February 2015 to the Director of Fisheries - www.championsyachtclub.com -
reveals zero activities in fisheries sector except mere mention of cage farming
and overwhelming focus on tourism and water sports. It is unlikely that
Director of Tourism has not checked the track record of Champions Yacht Club in
fishing activities in past. If the Director has done so then it is sign of high
degree of incompetence that calls for severe reprimand.
10. Message from the Champions Yacht Club CEO Subhakar Rao Surapaneni itself is
clear on the above mentioned website and Divar is being sought to be projected
for tourism purpose on the above cited website, “At Divar Island, one can have
the highest boating options and travelers can even have a meal right in the
middle of a lake in a floating BBQ boat.” So the second letter of 26th February
2015 given for inward on 09th March 2015 as referred in point 3 above was to
get legal cover for these tourism boats to enter into island for tourism
purpose.
11. We however have observed that N.O.C from Director of Fisheries is used as
an entry point for mechanized boats not for fishing but tourism purpose in CRZ
area of survey no.118/1 of Goltim, Tiswadi. Fishing is only the pretext for
tourism activities and Director of Fisheries is active participant in this scam
as N.O.C granted on 10/03/2015 is fraud beyond doubt.
12. Bharat Mukti Morcha calls upon The Secretary (Fisheries) and the Director
of Fisheries for immediate revocation of this N.O.C. granted to the Champions
Yacht Club.
13. Bharat Mukti Morcha calls for police investigation action into nexus
between the Champions Yacht Club and the Director of Fisheries who entertained
two different applications of dubious nature dated 26th February 2015 as
explained in above points 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 and without specifying as to which
applications Director has responded to and issued N.O.C that is misused for
tourism purpose without carrying on prior site inspection and granting of N.O.C.
14. Criminal proceedings are initiated against the Champions Yacht Club for all
the reasons mentioned in all the above 13 points.
Kindly act with urgency,
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Maggie Silveira
President, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Goa State Unit
Sd/-
Rohidas Andrade,
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha
Tiswadi Taluka Unit
Sd/-
Sanjay Harmalkar
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Divar Unit
Sd/-
Aaron D’Mello,
Convener, Bharat Mukti Morcha,
Old Goa Unit
