Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 7: Angered by excessive sand mining in the area, residents of Pavoor village organized a protest on Thursday October 6, alleging that mindless mining has posed the threat of saline water entering their wells and agricultural fields. The protest was staged under the aegis of ‘Save Pavoor Village Committee’ near Innoli estuary.

The protestors said that some sand traders have been mining sand from Innoli, Killur, Baidarlachchil and Natrakody since the last two years, and stocking the same at Arkula in Adyar village. They said that the agricultural activity is threatened because of the sand miners.

In his address, Pavoor gram panchayat president, Abdul Khader, said he is afraid that the well dug near Innoli estuary for supplying water to the people and meeting requirement of farmlands, may turn salty in the coming days. “If indiscriminate sand mining continues unabated, our farmers will be deprived of their source of income,” he warned.

He said that the gram panchayat has not issued any permits to the concerned, and that the sand traders have not cared for the rule of law, noting that the miners have also violated provisions of Coastal Regulatory Zone, which forbids sand mining near the seashore. He issued a stern ultimatum to the district administration, saying that the villagers will resort to stronger methods of protest if the administration continues to neglect their interests, and if the representations given earlier about the illegal activities to the officials and people’s representatives are continued to be overlooked.

Nadugudde Puttu, member of the committee, alleged that the policemen o Kankanady station have been supporting the mining mafia and threatening villagers who try to question the activity. 

Committee president, Cany D’Souza, vice-president, Suresh Shetty, gram panchaya vice-president, Leelavati, and member, Norbert D’Souza, were present.