MARGAO: A storm of discontent is brewing along Goa’s picturesque coastline as the State’s traditional fishing community voices strong opposition to the far-reaching implications of the Major Port Authority Act.
Notified in November 2021, the Act grants sweeping powers to major ports in India, potentially overriding municipal and State jurisdictions within designated port limits.
At the forefront of this resistance is Olencio Simoes, General Secretary (GS) of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE), a union representing the interests of Goa’s fishermen. Simoes, who is also the GS of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), has sounded the alarm bell, warning of the devastating consequences the Act could have on coastal areas and the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
The fishing community recalls that they had vehemently opposed the Major Port Authority bill introduced in 2019.
The community foresaw the potential threats posed by such overarching powers vested in port authorities.
The crux of the issue lies in the delineation of these port limits, which the fishermen allege have been marred by discrepancies in the CZMP maps with incorrect depiction of the High Tide Line (HTL) and port limits that work against their traditional local communities. These inaccuracies have only added to the community’s fears of potential land grabs and displacement.
Simoes warned, pointing out that residents currently living within the designated port limits could potentially be deemed encroachers under the new regime.
Manuel Fernandes, a traditional fisherman, stated that in Honnavar, fishermen are opposing the Honnavar Port Private Limited, where residents who have lived there for generations have already received eviction notices. A similar situation, he pointed out, had also unfolded in Karwar, where demolitions have already taken place. Fernandes added that in many places, these traditional fishermen have lived in the coastal belts even before the port’s operations had commenced.
Fernandes added that in Goa, they are already facing the onslaught of scrutiny from the State Environment Department due to CRZ issues and complications in accessing certain beach areas due to inspections by the Fisheries and Tourism Departments.
Against that backdrop, currently, one of their main demands is about getting the port jurisdiction denotified, something they have made clear to the government already.
Moreover, the recent renaming of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), as mandated by the Major Port Authority Act, has heightened their concerns further.
Earlier, prior to the Act’s implementation, local residents had warned the State government that this reclassification would grant the port sweeping authority over land and waters designated as port areas, potentially leading to a loss of the State’s powers, including the allotment of shacks within the MPA’s jurisdiction.
At that time, the State government had also written to the Union Shipping Ministry, urging them to reconsider the Act due to conflicts with State laws and the Land Revenue Code. However, despite that, the Centre proceeded with the transition.
The only reprieve the fishermen feel is that the Act is yet to be fully implemented in Goa and thus its enforcement in Goa is yet to occur. However, Simoes warned that once the act is rigorously implemented, the demolition of houses within the designated port limits could become a grim reality.
The fishing community fears that the port authorities, empowered by the new act, could exercise its powers and initiate projects along Goa’s coastline, leading to large-scale evictions affecting not just fishermen but also tourism-related businesses, water sports operators, and shack owners.
“Basically, now henceforth, we have to do anything related to the ocean, we have to purchase that area on lease,” Simoes lamented, underscoring the potential restrictions on traditional livelihoods and access to coastal resources.
Simoes pointed to the port’s leasing of three lakh square metres of water area in Cacra for a marina project, allegedly at a minimal cost for 25 years, as an ominous sign of things to come.
“With absolute authority granted to the port operator, the local State government holds no sway over its decisions or actions within the designated port limits,” said Amelia D’Souza, an environmentalist.
“Goa’s unique coastal heritage is at risk. The fishing villages and communities that have coexisted harmoniously with the sea for centuries could be wiped out in the name of progress. They must respect these traditional livelihoods,” D’Souza, added.
As the standoff intensifies, the Goan government faces mounting pressure to address the concerns raised by the fishing community and reassess the implications of this Act and CRZ rules on the State’s coastal regions. As the waves of change crash against the shores, the fishing community’s resolve to protect their heritage and way of life remains unshaken.
