FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Dhiraj Harmalkar
Sao Jacinto Island: It's a fight to protect their very own existence, heritage and homes
On February 23, the otherwise peaceful and lovely Niz Goenkars from Sao Jacinto Island gathered in large numbers on the island for a special cause.
The youth of this island along with the residents called mainstream media and expressed their shock, anger and posed some heavy questions which the State govt, MPT will have to answer about the safety of their houses, chapel, traditional activities which they have been doing on the island since ages.
After the port limits were shown in the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2021 plan which also includes their island, there was a collective chill that ran down the spines of the islanders. Their homes were missing from the plan which basically meant that their existence was not on record. And this meant that any plans on what has been their ancestral property can be carried out without having to even inform them.
They pointed out that scrutiny of the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan 2021 received from the government shows glaring discrepancies, specially that the houses of the villagers, mostly belonging to the fishing community have not been shown in the plan. They felt that this is contrary to what the government had assured to the residents while preparing the draft in 2019 that all houses will be shown when the final draft will be put up for scrutiny prior finalising.
Further, the Island has been shown as under Port Limits of Mormugao Port Trust. This came as a knock-out blow to the residents who are now fearing eviction.
Residents had also questioned that with the Parliament having passed the Major Ports Authority bill 2020, wherein MPT has been bestowed with enormous powers, which even supersede the existing rules and regulations of the local bodies, Planning department and even the state laws, what will be the fate of the residents of this island and whether they will be evicted from the place.
Incidentally villagers of Sao Jacinto had also unanimously passed a resolution incorporating protection to the Island and the coast including protection to the rich marine biodiversity, specially the window pane oysters, clams (Tisreos), crabs, various species of fish, etc.
Filomena Rodrigues, Sao Jacinto islander (66) senior citizen said centuries ago some locals from Sancoale village shifted to St Jacinto Island due to some epidemic then. The port trust has been claiming its jurisdiction 60 years ago.
She said, "We are in a state of shock to hear about the recent development about Port limits shown on CZMP plan. Where we will go without this island as many residents only have their houses on this island from centuries?"
She then asked pertinently "Why is there a bridge? Why had the government given electricity, water connection, street lights if there are no houses or a chapel, and other structures, which have been excluded on this draft CZMP 2021 plan?"
Another youth, named Mathew Dsouza,(19) resident of Sao Jacinto island said we got to know that in draft CZMP 2021 plan port limit of MPT has been marked. Sao Jacinto Island was shown in the Port limit but houses, chapel, cemetery, underground tunnel was not shown which was a great shock for us residents of this island.
There is a fear among minds of people that what if tomorrow MPT interferes and restricts our traditional activities in and around island, we will be helpless.
Dennis Caiado,(23) resident of Sao Jacinto also questioned what if tomorrow MPT claims there are no houses on the island as it has been not shown in the draft CZMP plan. Or what if MPT claims that the existing structures present on the island are illegally built?
Cajetan Vaz, another senior citizen living on Sao Jacinto island, also revealed that he is the sixth generation of his family who is living on this island. He said that majority of the islanders are into traditional fishing activities. Some of the families living on the island have shifted to Vasco but still hold land and houses on the island.
Vaz has expressed concern over the recent draft CZMP 2021 stating that there are many loopholes in the draft. He also opined that there might be a bigger conspiracy hatching against the Goans living on the island. He stated once the MPT becomes powerful after Major Port Authority Bill becomes an Act, the MPT will become a State within a State with local people left with no power to have their say in any matter.
Meanwhile on February 24, during media interaction MPT Chairman Dr E Ramesh Kumar (IAS) when asked about the Major Port Authority Bill 2020 and people's concerns about the bill, he replied stating that "my(Port) limits are already defined, whatever are my limits which are gazetted in the Govt of India my limits will always remain the same".
When questioned about Port Limits shown in draft CZMP 2021 and people's concern over it, MPT chairman said there is nothing called as recent mapping, whatever is in the govt gazette, that stands and will stand.
