CARMONA: Ramponkars are amongst the many people who stand to suffer or are already suffering from the Raheja project. The traditional fishermen may lose their livelihoods if the project comes up on the banks of River Sal.
For generations, these traditional fishermen would have access to the river, while the banks were their place to store and mend their canoes and fishing nets. Not only are they struggling to earn a living, but they have to face great difficulties while heading to the river for fishing. They now fear the impact that Raheja will have on the ecology.
The fishermen, whose catch are shellfish and the like, gave the example of Betul, where shellfish known as tisreo were recently found dead. One of the reasons was the dumping of sewage and garbage into the River Sal. With the pending destruction of the vegetation and mangroves in the area, the ramponkars are convinced that the Raheja project’s waste will also find its way into River Sal.
When contacted, Goenchea Ramponkaranchea Ekvott (GRE) immediately got in touch with the traditional fishermen and Carmona Village Committee (CVC). While it has been apprised of the situation and seen documentary evidence of fishermen’s plight, GRE will soon conduct an inspection of the site with the ramponkars. GRE joint general secretary and National Fish-workers’ Forum secretary, Olencio Simoes, criticised the government for issuing permission to Raheja to construct a mega-housing project in the Carmona.
“The villagers and traditional fishermen of Carmona were not taken into consideration while granting permission for this mega housing project. How can the government haphazardly grant permissions without first assuring the villagers and fishing community that the traditional access will not be denied, measures will be taken to prevent groundwater pollution will be taken, and no damage will be caused to Rivers Sal via raw sewerage discharge by Raheja?” said Simoes.
He continued, “It’s ironic to note the speed at which the government grants permissions to mega housing projects without taking into consideration vital, while working at a snail’s pace with respect to constituting and implementing the CRZ notification 2011, which states that district-level committees need to be set up to legalize traditional fisherpersons houses along the coast of Goa.” Simoes further stated, “The fishing community and the villagers of Carmona will not allow such mega housing projects in our quaint villages, unless proper assurances are given to the people of Carmona.”
CVC president Blair Rodrigues recalled how the densely vegetated areas were also a hotspot for birds, including migratory species, while local youth recalled how they would play sports in the area.
