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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.
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