Expats campaign to save Sao Jacinto Island

MARGAO: Distressed with the numerous anomalies in the draft Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) especially those related to the Sao Jacinto Island, a group of over 50-odd expatriate Goans based in United Kingdom (UK) had a Zoom meeting and begun a signature campaign with a memorandum to be submitted to the UK High Commissioner of India Gaitri Issar Kumar, Commissioner for Non-Resident Indians (NRI) Affairs Adv Narendra Sawaikar and Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, besides the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) Member Secretary Dasharath Redkar.

Spearheading this campaign through the social media by an impressive YouTube video titled “Have You Been To Jacinto Island Goa” (Welcome to the Worthy cause of St Jacinto-Goa) is a senior citizen Melvyn Fernandes, who has been a resident of Thornton, Heath, Surrey, London since 1974. The social activist Melvyn quipped, “Will the lighthouse on Sao Jacinto be a beacon shedding a light on this whole affair at the same time bringing the citizens of Goa still in darkness into light?”  

Melvyn urged all the residents, especially the young and agile in North and South Goa to make every effort to attend the CZMP public hearings on Sunday, March 7, at the Taleigao Community hall and Ravindra Bhavan, Margao respectively from 10 am to 7 pm by strictly following the COVID-19 precautions of wearing a face mask throughout and maintaining a physical distance of two metres at this important event. 

SPECIAL STATUS 

OF SAO JACINTO ISLAND

In the online memorandum registering and tabling his objections at the public hearings on March 7, for the draft finalisation of the CZMPs (as per the Notification 2011), the UK community worker Melvyn has highlighted the errors in the CZMP 2021 for the Sao Jacinto Island by stating that Sao Jacinto Island has had a ‘special status’ for years. Even Goans from outside the island are not allowed to buy property. No houses are let out either. Many houses are in ruins but yet no one sells. There is a written document which is kept with the church authority. I am concerned and distressed that representations made by the village have not been addressed and are systematically ignored. The villagers of Sao Jacinto Island are under the jurisdiction of the Chicalim Village Panchayat and have to repeatedly bring the same point again and again to the notice of your office (GCZMA). 

Our villagers had participated in a gram sabha called by the village panchayat on August 25, 2019 for discussing the CZMP prepared by the villagers in association with the Chicalim Village Biodiversity Management Committee, mundkars, oyster and clam pickers, village elders and others. It is shocking, therefore, that on scrutiny of the recently received draconian draft CZMP 2021 that has been published we find that it had not been rectified/corrected and it still reveals glaring anomalies. This is with respect to the draft CZMP 2021 prepared in accordance with 2021 that has been put up in the Chicalim village panchayat and published on the GCZMA for scrutiny and examination by the villagers,’ stated Melvyn, a retired travel agent.

MPT PORT LIMITS

The plan shows the entire coast of River Zuari along the Chiclaim village as under the Port Limits of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) owned by the Government of India. The entire island of Sao Jacinto has been shown as under the Port Limits of MPT. The presence of the endangered species of window pane oysters around the tiny Vareg Island has not been highlighted. The presence of various varieties of clams (tisreos) at the Chicalim Bay near Sao Jacinto Island and Vareg Island has not been highlighted. It is shocking, therefore, that on scrutiny of the recently received draft CZMP 2021 that has been published, we find that it has not been rectified/corrected and it still reveals glaring anomalies. 

“The heritage structures like the chapel dating back 1731, the Church, a tunnel on the hill, etc. have not been shown in the map. In view of the above, we demand that this office (GCZMA) include the points highlighted above in the CZMP 2021 and prepared in accordance with CRZ 2021 prior to the plan. They should review the whole situation along with the members of the Government of Goa,” stated Melvyn urging other expatriate Goans affiliated to various Global Goan organisations to email their objections to the GCZMA (goacoastalzone@gmail.com). 

Interestingly, free face masks are being donated by the Panjim-based Freedom Holidays firm with participants for these public hearing encouraged to collect it from their Patto-Panjim office, adds Melvyn’s online appeal to Goans.

Also backing this movement is a Loutolim native Carmen Miranda, also based in UK through her ‘Save Goa Campaign FB’ page, sources informed Herald. Also a UK committee led by Jacinto De Souza comprising of Harry Caiado, Angelo De Souza, Januario Po, Antonio Rodrigues and Jose Luis De Sousa.