the goan I network
PANAJI
The Goa unit of Bharat Mukti Morcha (BMM) has opposed the holding of the public hearing for the setting up of “AHOY” Marina in the Zuari River at Nauxim waterfront.
Maggie Silveira, the president of the BMM has written to the North Goa Collector as well as the Director of Fisheries citing 15 reasons why the public hearing should be scrapped.
“We re-iterate our opposition to a fresh notice from Goa State Pollution Control Board declaring the public hearing for setting up of “AHOY Marina” at Nauxim on 02/11/2019 at 10.30 am at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor Stadium. As per this advertisement, the District Magistrate or her/his representative is to supervise the entire public hearing process. Hence we address this letter to you,” Silveira wrote.
The BMM has stated that it is inappropriate to hold the hearing before the completion of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) which will be submitted only on November 5. Next, the location of the proposed marina is a fish breeding/spawning site, as well as a fishing site for several fishers on the Zuari river bank specially in villages of Nauxim, Bambolim, Siridao, Odxel, and Cacra.
The letter states that the location of AHOY Marina is in violation of the international law governing fisheries world wide. Silveira has said categorically that the AHOY Marina location is in violation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, 1995 which states that “All critical fisheries habitats in marine and fresh water ecosystems, such as wetlands, mangroves, reefs, lagoons, nursery and spawning areas, should be protected and rehabilitated as far as possible and where necessary. Particular effort should be made to protect such habitats from destruction, degradation, pollution and other significant impacts resulting from human activities that threaten the health and viability of the fishery resources.”
The NGO is afraid that the destruction of the famous fish spawning area in Nauxim will be subjected to heavy drilling and blasting of the purpose of dredging as per the draft EIA report leading to major long term negative irreversible impact on fisheries in Zuari river.
Another sore point raised is that the Jurisdictions of MPT over Zuari waters is disputed as the Central government circular of 24 May, 2000 was issued without consulting fishing communities of Zuari river as well without consulting the Goa Government.
In addition, the lease deed dated 12 October 2010 between MPT and Kargwal constructions (the company supposed to build the marina) does not acknowledge the existence of fishing communities who depend upon fishing in Zuari river and the need to safeguard their rights.
Other objections raised were that the in-principle approval dated 29/04/2015 granted by the Goa Investment Promotion Board (IPB) to Kargwal Construction Pvt Ltd to set up the Marina near Nauxim village “annexed with draft EIA report - “is a fraud in several respects,” stated the letter.
The NGO has also alleged that after granting in-principle approval for the marina, the decision was not communicated to the people of Nauxim or to Curca-Bambolim Panchayat under whose jurisdiction the Nauxim village comes. The in-principle approval was only conveyed to the Village Panchayat of Cortalim that has no jurisdiction over Nauxim village.
Several other objections that violate the small scale fisheries code were also raised.
