Panaji: Govt told told the Bombay high court on Monday that the captain of ports is in the process of withdrawing a July 2023 notification that allows inland water sports during monsoon.Govt counsel told the high court in a PIL filed by fisherman Joao Fernandes that challenges the notification for allegedly failing to clearly demarcate water sports zones and for broadly permitting activities across river stretches and eco-sensitive inland water bodies. He said the captain of ports issued the notification without authority.In his petition, Fernandes said motorised water sports in traditional fishing areas and fish breeding zones — especially during the monsoon — disrupt nets, affect fish spawning, and add noise and water pollution. He also pointed to the river’s proximity to the Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.During the hearing, govt counsel said the captain of ports decided to scrap the notification after the PIL and a communication from the tourism department.No water sports will be allowed until a policy is in place, and a fresh notification will be issued only after the tourism department identifies designated water sports locations.A division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Hiten Venegavkar reprimanded state govt for not conducting carrying capacity studies and for not factoring in livelihoods of fishermen before proposing zones for water sports and related activities.Captain of ports Octavio Rodrigues said inland water sports can be permitted only in notified zones and that the tourism department has not yet designated any such sites.He said fishermen’s concerns were valid and that a withdrawal notification is expected this week after legal vetting.The indiscriminate operation of motorised water sports vessels in traditional fishing zones and fish breeding areas particularly during the monsoons directly affects the livelihood of fisher persons like himself and others, Fernandes said.
