Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Sep 5: An emergency meeting of villagers, sand dock owners, and officials was held in Anagalli gram panchayat office following complaints that sand mining was causing untold misery to the local people in Herikudru of Anagalli gram panchayat limits.
"There is no drinking water for the last one week as the water pipeline has been damaged due to sand mining. More than 250 workers from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar employed here are behaving indecently and causing trouble to the local women. The road needs repairs. The sand workers are bossing over villagers. On the whole, life has become stressful due to sand mining," alleged the villagers of Anagalli.
In the meeting led by Kundapur police inspector Nasir Hussain, Herikudru area leaders demanded a solution and said that they will not let sand mining continue if suitable action is not taken.
"The ring road constructed under NABARD project at a cost of Rs 1 crore is damaged. Kandla plants of the forest department are destroyed. There are only two toilets here and the workers are
urinating wherever they like leading to a stink all around. Several people used to come here for fresh air earlier and this has now stopped. The road is no-motorable. The sand laden vehicles are being run on this road in a haphazard manner," said the people, expressing their anguish.
Taluk panchayat president Bhaskar Billava said that the mining has taken a toll on Herikudru. "The roads are completely damaged due to sand mining. If the threats and rowdy behavior continues, we will be holding protests in front of the office of the deputycCommissioner (DC) urging for a complete ban on sand mining," they warned.
The demands of the villagers included construction of a gate, allowing sand mining only between 6 am and 6 pm, CCTV cameras, identification of damage to the drinking water pipeline and its immediate repairs, payment of Rs 50 at the checkpost for each load of sand, issue of receipt for the payment, guidelines to the workers with regard to their behaviour, providing details and photographs of workers to the panchayat office, a registration number from the panchayat for boats used for sand transport, compulsory use of toilet by the workers and provision of details
of workers to the police station. The resolutions were passed in the meeting.
The villagers threatened that there will be intense protests in front of the DC’s office if the resolutions are not followed. gram panchayat president Maria D’Souza, vice-president Geetha, PDO Anil, Herikudru area local retired teacher Koragayya Shetty, Vishwanatha Shetty, Francis Fernandes, Sunil Shetty, Shekar Poojary, sand jetty owners Gangadhar Shetty and Shambhu Poojary were present.
"People in Herikudru suffering from a lack of drinking water for the last several years were provided drinking water from the municipal council through the MLA. However, the pipes are damaged due to sand mining and there is no drinking water here. The technicians for repairs of HDF pipelines have to come from distant towns. What is the arrangement for water till then? Such incidents make the people lose their patience," said Billava.
"The sand workers should compulsorily use toilets. If not, a penalty of Rs 1,000 will be levied on them. Sand dock owners should warn the workers and ask them to act in a decent manner," said inspector Hussain.
On Thursday September 3, villagers in Anagalli gram panchayat limits expressed their anguish after gathering near the river bank alleging that unabated sand mining has posed many problems for them. They said that water pipeline is spoiled causing scarcity of water for the last one week. They also alleged that more than 250 workers from Uttar Pradesh employed here are acting indecently.
There were heated arguments between villagers and sand mining workers. Kundapur police inspector Nasir Hussain came and tried to dilute the situation but the villagers demanded a solution to the problem.
"People here are facing hardships due to sand mining. The Ring road constructed at a cost of Rs one crore under Nabard project is damaged. The Kandla plants of forest department are destroyed. People employed in animal husbandry were earlier going to fetch grass for animals. They are unable to go now as the river has become deep after excavating sand," they said.
"Even though the villagers urged not to allow sand mining as this part comes within CRZ limits, it is allowed. More than 250 workers from Uttar Pradesh here are acting as they like. As there are only two toilets here, they urinate wherever they like. There area stinks. A lot of people used to come here for fresh air. It has stopped now", they said.
"The road is completely damaged and unfit for travel. The vehicles laden with sand are being run on this damaged road as they like. The villagers are scared to walk on the road. A suitable gate should be constructed here. Workers should be issued identity cards. They should be asked to act in a decent manner. The road should be repaired. Noise should be reduced at nights. The gram panchayat should protect the interests of local people", they urged.
Retired teacher Koragayya Shetty, Udaya Poojary, Vilas, Vishwanath Shetty, Francis Fernandes, Sunil Shetty, Shekar Poojary, Kusuma and Geetha were present. gram panchayat president Maria D' Souza, PDO Anil and member Gangadhar Shetty had arrived.