Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter UNDER WATER SCAM- FISHY DEALS IN FISHERIES DEPARTMENT

FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA      

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER

UNDER WATER SCAM-  

FISHY DEALS IN FISHERIES DEPARTMENT

 The Fisheries Department issues fishing contract to an influential man for continuous five years without calling for a single tender. 

Many ambitious projects of the Government towards rehabilitation of displaced tribal in Forests have not borne fruit because of the bureaucrats and unscrupulous contractors reaping the benefits. One such scheme by the National Fisheries Development Board, program for Girijans in HD Kote, stands as a shining example for this phenomenon. In the guise of Public-Private Partnership, the Nugu Reservoir's fishing rights have been leased out to an influential person from Mysore. The contract was terminated mid way and the contractor was made a partner of the Nugu Reservoir Development Committee. Besides, this so called 'partner' has been given fishing contract for five years for a nominal rate by the Director of Fisheries, without allowing anybody else to bid for the same. The contractor, now the partner in NRDC, has become a lessee of the Nugu Reservoir. And since 2001, he has monopolized the fishing contract in Nugu Reservoir. 

The Nugu Reservoir a backwater area in Heggada Devana Kote is located amidst forests habitated by girijans particularly Jenu Kurubas, who, since generations have depended on the forests for their livelihood. With the Forest laws getting more vicious these fishermen inhabitants were forced to make a living by doing labour. 

The government under its various schemes trained many unemployed tribal youths in fishing to better their living conditions. These tribal youths after obtaining intensive training could have prospered in the fishing profession, but, the Nugu Reservoir Development Committee set up by the government changed the entire scene. The Nugu Reservoir Development Committee was established by the Fisheries Development Board and financed by the National Fisheries Development Board for the purpose of rearing many species of the fishes. 

 Interestingly, the department, in stead of encouraging the local fishermen, gave the contract for rearing the fishes in the Nugu Reservoir to a private contractor by name Mr. Jagadish Gowda from Mysore. He was given the contract of rearing the fishes for three years and later renewed up to 2007-08. Though he is not a fisherman, he managed to get the contract and sadly did not allow any tribal men to enter the Nugu area. He carried out fishing with people brought from outside and cared a damn for the tribal. 

While he made millions rearing the fishes, the tribal were forced to seek alternative means for living. 

The tribal also tried to assert their rights, but in vain. They organized themselves and petitioned the Government, M.P., M.L.A, but for no outcome. The contractor already had established a nexus and was sharing the millions with concerned authorities. However, the tribal continued their fight against the injustice. They successfully organized themselves to form 'Nooraleeswara Nugu Jalashaya Fisherman's Co-op Society in 2004, but the registration was blocked by the Department authorities. 

Shockingly, there was no one to help these tribal. Even the so called elite people who publicize their support for the cause of tribal did not bother to assist them. Yet, the tribal marched ahead alone. They made several petitions to the Director of Fisheries, to give them license to fishing in Nugu Reservoir and to award the contract to Nooraleswara Nugu Jalashaya Fisherman's Co-op Society. Their last petition was on 17th November, 2007, when the state was under the President's rule. 

Now the contractor and the officials realized that they had to work out a plan to protect their interests and they did strike a novel idea. Mr. Jagadish Gowda was asked to handover the contract rights and thereafter his contract was terminated. Then, under Private-Public Partnership, Jagadish Gowda was made a partner in the NRDC. While, his fishing contract was terminated with effect from 18/12/2007, Jagadish Gowda became a partner in NRDC along with the Fisheries Department. 

 THE SHARK DIRECTOR! 

This entire episode was scripted by the Director of Fisheries who sent a proposal to the government on 20-11-2007, (3 days after the last petition by the Fisherman's Society) making out a strong case for making Jagadish Gowda, a partner under PPP for the NRDC. He eulogized Jagadish Gowda, and made a special mention of his contribution to the development of fisheries in NR. 

While the centrally sponsored scheme under PPP implies the Fisheries Department partnering with Individuals /Associations, the Fisherman's society was best suited for this partnership. It consists of local tribal whose occupation was fishing. Moreover, the government itself had given intensive training to many local fishermen and the NFDB scheme would have become fruitful. 

But, the top brass in the Fisheries department had no interest in these silly matters. The schemes meant for tribal, Adivasis etc are dry areas for them except some 'Tips' by the beneficiaries now and then. So, the government issued an order on 18-12-2007 accepting the proposal of the Director. It terminated the Fishing contract of Jagadish Gowda with immediate effect and made Jagadish Gowda a partner in the NRDC. Further, the Director had made strong recommendation to award the future fishing contract to Mr. Jagadish Gowda and astonishingly his recommendation was to award him the contract for 5 years. The Director also proposed the lease amount as Rs. 1,06,030/- for the year 2007-08 with 5 % increase every year for the next four years. This lease amount and the 5% increase ratio was proposed by the Director on his own. He had never opted for tenders and recommended the contract to be directly given to Jagadish Gowda. Shockingly, the Government blindly accepted the Directors proposal and issued the order. Even the lease amounts proposed were exactly implemented. 

EVERYTHING FISHY! 

There are many points to ponder over the activities of the Fisheries Department. 

1) The contract of Jagadish Gowda was to expire on 30/06/2008. What was the need to terminate this contract six months before its expiry? Further, it is understood that Jagadish Gowda surrendered his contract rights only after the assurance that he will become partner in NRDC and also will be awarded the fresh fishing contracts. 

2) What was the need for the Director to praise the Contractor in his proposal? Also there was no need for him to propose that the future fishing contracts be given to the same contractor? This could have been decided by the Government. Further, why should the Director propose that the contract be awarded for continuous five years? 

3) On what basis, did the Director fix the annual lease amount and what is the logic behind the 5% increase every year? The contract eventually fetches only 20% increase at the end of five years. Why weren't the tenders called for to decide the fishing contract? Whatsoever, the Department has no provision in the Transparency Act or in the rules governing the award of tenders, to award a contract without calling for tenders, and that too, for a period of five years. 

 4) The Nugu Reservoir has about 1500 hectares area with about 1000 hectares as the utility area for fishing. However, while the contractor fishes in the entire Nugu Reserviour, the area contracted is only 707 hectares, that too at a shocking rate of only Rs. 150/- per hectare.