Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 5: Following a report by Daijiworld Media on June 19, the deputy commissioner (DC) has established a committee to investigate the illegal sand mining activities at Pavoor Uliya.
The committee, tasked with probing the sand mining and associated mafia at Pavoor Uliya, will be led by assistant commissioner Harshvardhan S J and will include Prof Raj Mohan and Prof Swathi from NITK Surathkal, ACP Mangaluru South Dhanya Nayak, Joint director of the forest, environment, and ecology department Sushmitha, and Sheikh Dawood. The DC has directed the committee to submit their report within a week.
This initiative by the DC is a direct response to Daijiworld’s report on the illegal sand mining operations. On June 19, a team from Daijiworld visited Pavoor Uliya for a reality check and discovered several boats engaged in the illegal sand mining that is endangering the island’s natural beauty.
On June 24, motivated by Daijiworld's findings, delegations from various organizations visited the site. Leaders including Muneer Katipalla, Roy Castelino, Alwyn D’Souza (president of the Catholic Sabha), Stany Lobo (former president of the Catholic Sabha), Fr Manohar D’Souza (parish priest of Pavoor Uliya church), Santhosh Bajal, Sunil Kumar Bajal (CPIM leader), Gilbert D’Souza, and Vinod Pinto demanded stringent action against the sand mafia. The delegation also submitted a memorandum to the DC urging immediate intervention.
On June 27, the mines and geology department issued a controversial clarification in response to Daijiworld's report, denying the existence of any sand mafia activities at Pavoor Uliya and dismissing the video evidence aired by Daijiworld as outdated. This statement has been criticized by journalist Stany Bela, who first highlighted the issue and accused the department of being influenced by the sand mafia. Bela announced his intention to publish a detailed historical account of the alleged illegal sand mining activities.
The public outcry on social media underscores the demand for a thorough investigation and transparency from the authorities regarding the situation in Pavoor Uliya. Activists and the public continue to press for decisive action to address and resolve the illegal sand mining issue.
On July 5, concerned organizations appealed to district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to put an end to the illegal sand mining at Pavoor Uliya.