VASCO: The traditional fishermen from Vasco and Baina on Monday held a peaceful protest rally in Vasco to highlight a few important issues such as the destruction of Baina beach in name of beautification project and to demand rehabilitation for residents of the 121-odd structures at Katem Baina.
The members of all traditional fishermen communities from Vasco and Baina including Baina Ramponkar and Canoe Owners’ Society, Desterro Fishermen’s Association, Old Cross Fishing Canoe Owners’ Society, Khariwado, besides the Mormugao Vasco Citizens Forum (MVCF) and Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) participated in the rally.
Over 400 people participated in the protest rally which started from Shafi Masjid in Baina and culminated at Mormugao Deputy Collector’s office in Vasco.
A delegation of fishermen community submitted a memorandum to the Mormugao Deputy Collector.
Mormugao Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai received the memorandum on behalf of Deputy Collector Gaurish Sankhwalkar.
Speaking to reporters, MVCF president Andrew Alvares said, “The protest rally aimed at highlighting few important issues including the destruction of Baina beach in name of beautification project and demand rehabilitation for residents of the 121-odd structures at Katem Baina.”
“Our first demand is that the GCZMA demolition order to the residents of 121-odd structures at Katem Baina be kept on hold until and unless all the occupants get rehabilitation in close vicinity. Our second demand is that the state government should immediately intervene and stop the destruction of Baina beach. The concrete structures constructed by GTDC-appointed contractor fall in a No Development Zone and are in gross violation of CRZ notification 2011 and thus the same should be immediately demolished,” he said.
Alvares said, “At present, we have decided to hold a peaceful protest. However, if the state government fails to pay attention to our demands, which have been submitted in the form of a memorandum, then we would be compelled to intensify our agitation,” he warned.
The other issues, which have been highlighted in the memorandum submitted to Mormugao Deputy Collector’s office, with the request to forward the same to the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, the fishermen have asked the government to allow installation of temporary sheds close to the shore at Baina and Desterro to house canoes and fishing nets owned by local fishermen. It has been asked to form a district level committee as per CRZ notification of 1991. They have demanded that the government should demarcate fishing villages as per CRZ Act and to regularise the houses of fishing community of Baina, Desterro and Khariwado.
They have also raised their objections to the anti-soil erosion measures undertaken by WRD at Katem Baina, Vaddem, Dabolim, Velsao and Arrossim. The demand to scrap the Mormugao Port Trust’s proposed plan for fishing jetty at Khariwado was also made in the memorandum.
Cong, NCP warn govt against demolishing Katem Baina structures
VASCO: Extending their full support to the occupants of 121 structures at Katem Baina facing demolition, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have warned government against demolishing the same without rehabilitating the residents.
The Congress has even threatened to call for a Goa Bandh, if the government goes ahead with the proposed demolition at Katem Baina in near future without rehabilitating the affected people.
Addressing reporters on the sidelines of a protest rally organized by the fishermen community from Vasco and Baina, the NCP Goa state president, Jose Philip D’ Souza claimed that NCP fully supports the demand for rehabilitation to the 121-odd Katem Baina residents and added that the attempt by state administration to demolish structures at Katem Baina is totally wrong as there is some hidden agenda behind displacing these poor fishermen. The protest rally was supported by GRE and the Mormugao Vasco Citizens Forum.
GPCC general secretary and spokesperson Sankalp Amonkar said, “We fully support the rehabilitation demand made by the people from Katem Baina. During Congress government’s tenure, all those people who lost their structures during the landslides at Tariwado as well as those whose houses were demolished due to four-lane highway alignment were rehabilitated.”
“We warn the BJP government to hold back demolition until rehabilitation is made, failing which Congress workers along with the people would hold a mass agitation, if required we would also call for Goa Bandh, if government tries to demolish the structures at Katem Baina in near future without rehabilitating the affected people,” he warned.
