https://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2019/03/objections-to-marinas-in-zuari-river.html
Date: 01/03/2019
To,
The Collector (North Goa),
Panjim, Goa
Subject: Objections to Marinas in Zuari river
Dear Sir/Madam,
It has come to our attention though media reports that Goa State Pollution
Control Board has approached your office to initiate process for Public Hearing
for installing marina in Zuari river off coast of Nauxi village in Tiswadi.
We write this let you know that we continue to oppose both the marina projects
in Zuari river not only because it will adversely affect fishing communities
engaged in fishing activities but also because of the undemocratic process of
leasing out of River Zuari followed by Marmagoa Port Trust (MPT). Without
consulting fisher people dependent on Zuari river MPT leased out 2,00,000
square meters of Zuari river bed for two marinas within 3 days (12-14, October,
2010) for 30 years each.
While the two lease deeds took enough precautions to protect mining barge
traffic in Zuari the same precautions are not taken for fishing activities in
Zuari river. In fact lease deeds makes it clear that setting up of marina will
require large scale dredging of river which will surely result in destruction
of Zuari river fisheries.
MPT carried on these lease deeds by virtue of the Central government
notification of May 24, 2000 that asserts Jurisdiction of MPT up to Cortalim
bridge. MPT is controlled by Union Ministry of Shipping. This notification too
was issued without consulting fishing communities connected to Zuari river.
If process for marina project is initiated by holding public hearing then it
will symbolize Union Shipping Ministry’s commitment to destroy Zuari river
fisheries. Already there is lots of misery spread out to Vasco residents due to
MPT’s handling of Coal resulting in dredging of Arabian Sea as well as Coal
dust pollution. With marina in Zuari this misery will enter Zuari river and it
will destroy fisher community’s livelihoods as well as ecology resulting in
Port-led Poverty.
We also wish to convey to you that Central Government 2019 notification
relating to CRZ has already set in unrest amongst fishing communities in the
State of Goa and installation of marinas will only facilitate further
escalation of tension.
The sizable affected people on Zuari river bank are also Scheduled Tribes whose
livelihoods were destroyed due to setting up of various projects in the past
resulting in no benefit to the community. Few of these projects include Goa
University, Goa Medical College, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa
International Centre etc. This development forced these people to take up
fishing. Marina spells doom to the livelihood of these People. Should one more
project of be imposed at Nauxim sacrificing adivasis for prosperity of few rich
Yacht owning tourists and five star hotels like Hotel Grand Hyatt and Cidade de
Goa that are located on Zuari river bank? Amongst adivasis there is already
nation wide unrest is underway due to eviction threats of those living in
forest landscapes. Central Government has failed to depute lawyers to defend
government law protecting Tribal People and Other Forest Dwellers in India.
This has already affected 23 lakh people all over India. Marinas too are
destined to provoke eviction of river bank tribal people in Nauxim-Cacra
villages.
People on Zuari river banks are insecure as river has been declared as National
Waterway 111 as Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has assertive
control over riparian areas. In this context Installation of Marinas in Zuari
has been viewed as frontal attacks on the livelihood of people particularly
dependent upon fishing.
Kindly convey our objection to marinas in Zuari to the State and Central
Government.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Sd/-
Maggie Silveira,
President,
Goa Unit
