Chapora fishermen raise concern over Major Port Authority

Team Herald  

CHAPORA:  Several fishermen from Chapora and nearby villages demanded scraping of the Major Port Authority-2021(MPA-2021). They said a representation would be submitted to the government to scrap the MPA.

They also appealed the people from across the State to unite keeping aside all the differences to fight against the Act.

“I want to give a call to people residing in coastal belt and as well as others to unite since this CZMP Plan which the government has got is lethal. We had asked the authorities that until this plan does not reach to the villages and people don’t discuss it there will be objection for it. For CRZ they gave 500 metres limit, later for CZM it was made 200 metres and now for this CZMP it’s 50 meters restrictions,” said a fisherman from Chapora.

“Goverment claimed that they are doing it for protection of people from HTL but we has asked that this plan should reach in every panchayat for people to discuss and get objection and suggestion on the same. Now mid of March they want to approve the plan but still I want to request the next government that will be formed to scrap the MPA. This will not only affect the people living in costal belt but everybody since the Sagarmala project which is connected to rivers and  indirectly both the CZMP and Sagarmala are connected to each other. Last year we had even submitted a 76 points letter to authorities but to action were taken on the same. I appeal people to unite and protect the State from MPA. If this goes under privatisation, the private companies will have their stake similar to how MPT is given 25km from south and north,” added the fisherman.

RTI Activist Rajan Ghate said, “This issue is not only related to Fisherman but everyone who is dependent on the coast. Revolution is required to stop this CZMP plan. There is no point in condemning but action is required. All the committees, panchayats, bio diversity committees, social activists must unite and fight for this and I want to tell the government that Goenkar will rise for this cause.”

Michael D’Souza chairman of Anjuna Caisua Biodiversity Committee said, “This is a fishing village and it has to be marked as fishing village otherwise ports will interfere. Rivers will be nationalised. If this is not done then Coal will be bought and transported from our villages and nothing will remain in our control.” Why should people suffer to development of other States?”

Sanjay Barde President of Dev Bodgeshwar Xerkari Sangh said, “Fisherman is the king of sea however, this government is claiming to be the king and getting such projects and plans to destroy the State. No one was taken into consideration while having this plan. This is an important issue because the government wants to sell of the beaches and sea and to stop this, we need to unite. Why a person sitting in Delhi will decide for us. I appeal people all over Goa to unite and be part of this battle.”

Balbhim Malwankar a fisherman from Chapora said,” If we want to protest and save Goa we need to unite keeping aside all differences”.