----- Original Message ----- From: hobcraft To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; Averthanus ; Goa Desc ; Other India Bookstore ; Godfrey Gonsalves ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; MAPUSAPLUS ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 7:39 PM Subject: LETTER : Director of Fisheries Mr. S.C. Verenkar Re: Implementation of Fisshing Ban, Fish net 'mesh-size' Rule.
GOA SU-RAAJ PARTY (The Good-Governance Party) ZO: 2nd. Floor Karekar Building- Angod-Mapusa-403 507 Ph: 266111 / 266101 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goasu-raj.org Our Ref: GSRP/DF-1/07/02 Date: 9th. July, 2002. To, Mr. S.C. Verenkar, Director of Fisheries, Panjim- GOA. Sir, Sub: Failure to implement "Goa Fishing Rule" on Mesh -Size by the Directorate of Fisheries. Ref: "Fisheries Department fails to crack whip on use of mesh size" Herald dt. 05/07/2002. The Herald, as referred to above, has reported your comments stating that the Goa Fisheries Rules on mesh size are 'impracticable' and 'not advisable' . (xerox copy of the paper cutting enclosed). If you own that statement reported therein, then we would like to enlighten you that this rule on fish net mesh size control is not new to Goa. This rule was very effectively implemented by the erstwhile Portuguese regime. There is nothing indigenous about this rule as this is followed internationally to protect the juvenile fish. Once upon a time, Goa enjoyed abundance of fish in its seas as well as in its estuaries and rivers. Today, because this important rule is bent, if not totally abrogated due to the overpowering predominant influence of the fishing lobby over the governments of the day and its bureaucracy, for their own vested interests, Goa's marine as well as the estuarine fish resources are depleted and many species are either extinct or are on the verge of extinction. Furthermore, your kind attention is drawn the very disturbing comment that you have made in the above mentioned newspaper report: Quote Tomorrow, the fisheries officials cannot just go and confiscate the nets and thus bring the activity to a standstill" Unquote. Such a statement coming from a supposedly responsible person such as the Director of Fisheries is, indeed, in very bad taste and demands immediate apology. This type of attitude adopted by the custodians of law promotes lack of respect for the laws in the people who have to obey them. Secondly, taken the issue of government's current ban imposed on mechanized fishing, effective from 1st. June to 15th. August, 2002, your office has issued directives to all concerned fishermen to observe the ban in toto. According to the reports reaching our office, we believe that some politically well placed fishermen's groups have planned to fish from 25th. July, 2002 to defy the ban, to follow the example of last year. If this happens, is your department ready to swing into action and not only arrest the violators and impound their boats and trawlers but also suspend their licenses for a period of 6 months or more? Or will you derelict your official duties by shifting the blame elsewhere just as you have indicated through your comments as mentioned above? If that happens, then it will be a clear cut case of ''Contempt of High Court", and as such, necessary proceedings shall be filed against you and your department, seeking your removal from office while holding you solely responsible for helping vested interests to promote anarchy and get away with it. We further remind you, sir, that your suggestions as reported in the above mentioned newspaper report of making the fishermen aware of the need for the control of mesh size through awareness workshops etcetera is fine as long as it helps to forewarn the would be offenders of this rule of their potential arrests, heavy penalties and on the spot suspension of their fishing licenses. But to leave it to the discretion of the fishermen to follow the rules through such awareness programmes is highly presumptive and borders on absurdity. This will be tantamount to kicking the law around and conspiring to deprive the people of Goa their staple food from their plates. Please be assured that your inaction to implement, in totality, the fishing ban upto 15th. August, 2002 as provided by the law, as well as your inaction to implement, in the strictest possible manner, the mesh-size rule for the fishing nets, will be taken as blatant aberrations in governance on the part of the government and specifically your department. Therefore, you are hereby forewarned to expect massive people's agitation to restore the rule of law in this land where all principles are seen to be compromised for selfish personal interests of the corrupted few, and in which, the government bureaucracy has been playing a major unhindered role. Hoping that better sense will prevail and the rule of law will be upheld at all costs. Thanking you, Yours truly, for Goa Su-Raaj Party Sd/- (Floriano C. Lobo) President. Copy: Governor of Goa., Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula. Copy: Chief Minister/Minister for Fisheries, Panjim. Copy: Justices, Bombay High Court, Panjim Bench., Panjim. Copy: Leader of the Opposition, Goa Legislative Assembly. Porvorim. Copy: Mathany Saldhana, MLA -Cortalim. Copy Dr. Wilfred D'Souza, MLA- Saligao Copy: Goa Environment Federation, Panjim. Copy: Goa Desc, Mapusa. Copy: Goa Foundation, Mapusa. Copy: South Goa Public Interest Action Group, Margao. Copy: Herald/Navhind Times/ Gomantak Times/ Gomantak/ Tarun Bharat/Pudhari/Navprabha/ Goa Today/ Goa Unravelled/ Mapusa Plus/ Vasco Watch./Vauraddeancho Ixtt/ Sunaprant/ Sanatan Prabhat/Rashtramat/Asean Age/ Deccan Herald. Copy: (Internet) Goanet/Goanews/GoaGoans/Goancauses/Super Goa/ Goa Sudharop/ Konkani-net. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!