Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)
Kundapur, Mar 21: The villagers of Trasi, Mowadi and Nada Guddeangadi areas staged a protest on Monday, March 21, urging the administration to stop mechanized silt removal from Sauparnika river at Trasi.
“Karnataka state mineral corporation limited company is removing the silt from Sauparnika river at Trasi and Hosadu village through mechanized boats. Due to this the river banks will collapse. Salt water is oozing in the nearby wells. Drinking water problem has surfaced. There is a possibility that the dam near the silt removal area might also burst. This will cause problems for fishing. Travelling on the road has become dangerous as hundreds of trucks ply day and night. So the mechanized silt removal should be stopped and traditional sand removal should be allowed,” said the protesting villagers.
Assistant commissioner K Raju, who arrived at the spot, instructed the officers of the mining department to get a report from NITK on the ill effects of mechanized silt removal. He also assured the protesters of taking suitable action once he received the report and holding a discussion on the matter with DC. He instructed the contractor to stop the work of silt removal till a decision was arrived at.
Praveen Kumar Shetty, former vice president of Trasi panchayat said, “Mechanized silt removal from Sauparnika river is dangerous. Salt water is flowing into the nearby wells. River banks have started collapsing. There is a possibility of damage to the nearby dam also. Fishing is also getting affected. Five villages which lie close to the river basin are in grave danger.”
Giving clarification on the silt removal work, Kiran, on behalf of the contractor said, “We are removing silt from Saurparnika river as per the orders of the government. Our job is only to load the excavated silt. It is not possible to remove silt traditionally. So the work is being done through machines. All works are being done as per law. We have reciprocated to the problems faced by the public.”
Mining officers Sandeep, Sandhya, Vandse Hobali revenue inspector Raghavendra Devadiga, Byndoor circle inspector Santhosh Kaykini, Gangolli station ASI Nanja Naik, Byndoor BJP president Deepak Kumar Shetty, Pranay Kumar Shetty, former president of taluk panchayat Praveen Kumar Shetty, Nada gram panchayat president Dinesh Shetty, Hakladi gram panchayat president Chethan, Trasi gram panchayat member Mithun Devadiga, Sridhar Badakere, Raghavendra Achari, Nagaraja Mogaveera, Ashok Shetty, Saroja, Praveen Mowadi, Sathish Mowadi and Kiran Anagodu were present.