Team Herald
VASCO: The members of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), along with members of Baina Ramponkar and Fishing Canoe Owners’ Society on Friday submitted a memorandum to the Mormugao MLA Milind Naik demanding the rehabilitation or regularization of all affected 69 fishermen houses at Katem Baina.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Naik, GRE General Secretary Olencio Simoes said the Baina fishing communities are traditional fishermen who have been living in the same place prior to the independence and their traditional dwelling/structures have been existing prior to the enactment of the CRZ regulations in 1991/2011 and as per the CRZ act.
“The dwelling units of the traditional coastal communities including fisher folk, tribals are in fact permissible under the provisions of the CRZ notification, 1991. As per the law if the fishermen community has not obtained formal approval for their constructions from concerned authorities under the aforesaid notification, it shall be considered by the respective Union territory Coastal Zone Management Authorities and such dwelling units will be regularized”.
“Way back in year 2008, the Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Goa had initiated a proposal for rehabilitation / relocation of the said structures from Katem Baina beach area to an adjoining land belonging to the PWD Department near sewerage treatment plant at Katem. Further on June 21 2011, the traditional fishermen at Baina forwarded a letter to GCZMA for regularization but at the 116th meeting of the GCZMA held on May 26 2015, the issue relating to procedure to be followed for regularization of structures as per Clause 6(d) of the CRZ Notification, 2011, came up for consideration. It is pertinent to note that at the said meeting, it was observed the term ‘authorized structure’ was not clearly defined in the CRZ Notification, 2011 and hence the GCZMA had sought clarification from MoEF,” he added.
Olencio said the GCZMA authorities issued a show cause notice and final demolition order. Subsequently the High Court of Bombay stayed the demolition order. However, even after this the GCZMA was not willing to regularize or rehabilitate the fishermen.
houses.
and they were harassed by the GCZMA and this had taken a compete toll on their health and was a threat to their livelihood, he said.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues said, “CRZ was constituted in 1991 with a view to ensure livelihood security to the fisher community and other local communities living in the coastal areas. To conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and to promote development through sustainable manner, but on contrary the same notification is used to demolish our traditional houses built prior to 1991 and on other side construction of roads, bridge and tourism development is taking place on the Baina beach.”
Meanwhile, after giving a patient hearing to the fishermen community at his residence at Headland sada, MLA Milind Naik assured them he would do his best to take up the issue before the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. However no concrete assurance was given on saving the structures as the matter is before the court.
