VASCO: Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has strongly objected to the “illegal” demolition drive being undertaken by the government along the coast of Baina.
GRE President Agnelo Rodrigues said that legalization of all houses of the fishing community at Baina had been their long-pending demand. He continued, “Our leader late Matanhy Saldanha worked tirelessly for protection of fishermen’s rights and had also placed a demand before the present government to regularize the houses that were built up to 2005, which was accepted by the BJP and then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
He added, “We demand that the government implement the 2011 CRZ notification and constitute district-level committees and legalize all traditional houses.”
GRE has also requested the government not to demolish more houses of the fishing community and compensate the residents of the 10 structures that had been demolished a few months ago, failing which they would agitate.
Olencio Simoes, GRE joint general secretary, stated that the CRZ Act had been implemented in 1991, whereas the structures of the fishing community at Baina had been built before the Act came into force. He said that if the government wanted to demolish structures for violating CRZ norms, it should also demolish all houses and hotels that had been built along the coast.
“Successive governments have failed to regularize our houses and demarcate fishing villages as per the CRZ notification 2011. Fishermen had high hopes from the present government, which is why they worked towards bringing the party to power in 2012 and 2014. Unfortunately the government is working against us,” said Simoes.
As per the notification, he said, the State government or the Union territory CZMAs shall primarily be responsible for enforcing and monitoring this notification; to assist in this task, the government and CZMAs shall constitute district-level committees under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate, containing at least three representatives of the local communities, including fisherfolk.
Agnelo further pointed out that the dwelling units of the fishing community were permissible under the provisions of the CRZ.
