The Mormugao Port Authority has withdrawn its expression of interest to lease approximately one kilometre of Baina beach for water sports activities, a decision welcomed by the National Fishworkers Forum as a safeguard for public access and traditional coastal livelihoods in Goa.
The forum said the withdrawal was important for residents, traditional fishing communities and others concerned about commercial activity along the state’s beaches, rivers and coastal waters. National Fishworkers Forum general secretary Olencio Simoes described the decision as a victory for the people of Goa and called for a clear commitment that similar proposals would not be introduced without transparent public consultation.
The forum also sought proper assessments of the social, environmental and livelihood impacts of any future plans involving public waterfronts. Baina beach, according to Simoes, serves not only as a public coastal space but also as a source of livelihood for traditional fishworkers and local tourism operators.
Simoes referred to earlier marina development proposals involving the erstwhile Mormugao Port Trust, now the Mormugao Port Authority. Lease agreements for marina development at Nauxim and Sancoale were entered into in October 2010, but the proposals faced opposition from local residents and fishing communities over access to the water, traditional fishing activities and the commercialisation of waterfront areas.
The forum said the latest withdrawal highlighted the importance of public opposition and accountability in decisions affecting Goa’s coastline. It also raised questions about the extent of the port authority’s powers over coastal land and water areas that are used by traditional fishworkers, tourism stakeholders and local communities.
Simoes said the authority operated under a statutory framework that gave it significant powers within its jurisdiction, but argued that those powers should not undermine the rights of Goan residents or interfere unnecessarily with traditional livelihoods. He questioned whether a port authority should be able to make decisions affecting beaches, rivers and coastal waters without sufficient public accountability.
The proposed Baina lease had raised concerns about continued public access, the future of traditional fishing activities and the possible displacement of local tourism stakeholders. The forum’s demand is that any comparable proposal in the future should be preceded by public consultation and assessments covering its social, environmental and livelihood consequences.
