The general secretary of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), Narendra Patil, has opposed the government’s plans to dredge the rivers and canals across India, including the Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Mapusa and Sal rivers of Goa, for developing the inland waterways of about 101 rivers in India. Joint-general secretary of Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) Olencio Simoes urged the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the state government to not sign the memorandum of understanding (MoU) without taking fishermen into confidence. One crore traditional coastal and inland fishermen of the country will be the biggest losers as their habitat and traditional fishing activities will be disrupted, he said, adding that the risk of oil spill will increase with such projects. He said that dredging could also lead to collapsing of river beds, thereby causing floods. Besides, it will amount to complete CRZ violation as mangroves will be destroyed along with the destruction of corals and coral reefs, Simoes added. warning authorities of a state-wide agitation if the MoU is signed.
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