Mangaluru: Sand Mafia threatens lives, livelihoods on Pavoor Uliya Islet
Fr Manohar D’Souza, a priest at Infant Jesus Church on Pavoor Uliya islet, has raised serious concerns about the sand mafia's activities, which are devastating the islet in the Netravati River and instilling fear among over 50 families who have lived there for generations. Speaking to the media on Monday, after a visit to the affected area with representatives from the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh and other supportive organizations under the campaign ‘Save the islet, Save lives’, Fr D’Souza highlighted the gravity of the situation.
“The people behind illegal sand mining in Pavoor Uliya are essentially burying the locals alive over the past few years. The sand mafia is putting lives at risk and should be prosecuted for homicide. Despite years of appeals to the district administration, there has been no action. The people here desperately need a lasting solution,” said Fr D’Souza.
Gilbert D’Souza, a resident of the islet, shared the struggles of the local community against the sand mafia. “The islet used to be about 100 acres wide, but now half of it is gone. When A B Ibrahim was the Deputy Commissioner, he visited the area with other officials and ordered the closure of sand mining docks in Valachil, Pavoor, Gadigadde, and behind Sahyadri College. This move temporarily halted the mafia's activities. However, in recent years, illegal mining has resumed on a large scale. Thousands of workers in this illegal industry directly threaten the small local population. We need a permanent solution to this problem so we can live without fear,” he said.
The delegation traveled by boat from Adyar to conduct an inspection around Pavoor Uliya islet, revealing the severe impact of illegal sand mining. Compared to a few years ago, they found that half of the islet had vanished. Clear signs of sand extraction through hoeing were visible. Media captured photos of a boat actively engaged in mining during the day. At the Valachil dock on the banks of the Netravati River, the team observed a crane loading sand into vehicles and heaps of sand scattered across various parts of the islet. The delegation was upset by the destruction of this natural beauty spot due to illegal sand extraction.
Residents of Pavoor Uliya rely on boats to connect to the city. Boat travel on the Netravati River is essential for reaching schools, colleges, jobs, and hospitals. The journey becomes extremely difficult and risky during the rainy season. A motorized boat and two simple sailboats operate from 7 am to 7 pm, transporting people from the islet to Adyar, with a round trip costing 30 rupees per person. In previous years, locals built temporary sandbag bridges to cross the river in summer. Now, they construct a small bridge using ropes, wooden planks, and iron rods, all at their own expense. In January 2019, the sand mafia dismantled an iron bridge built at a cost of 10 lakhs. Locals filed a complaint about this incident.
Residents say that MLAs and other elected representatives frequently promise a permanent bridge to the islet, but none of these promises have been fulfilled over the past decade. U T Khadar, the Vidhan Sabha Speaker and Ullal MLA, has made a new promise for a bridge this time.
Representatives of various organizations including Manjula Nayak, Stanley Lobo, Yadav Shetty, B Shekhar, John Lasrado, Vinod Pinto Takode, Sunil Kumar Bajal, Santhosh Bajal, Munnur Gram Panchayat President Wilfred, Toby Pinto and Stanley D’Cunha were present in the delegation.
Muneer Katipalla, Convener of the Union of like-minded organisations, stated that there was no permission for sand mining in river water. “Even fishing is banned in the rainy season. Illegal sand mining is active in Pavoor Uliya in this season too. It’s really hampers the balance in nature. If this continues for a few more years, the islet will surely disappear. What will happen to more than 50 families who live there? The district administration must provide a permanent solution to this problem”.
“After hearing about the problems faced by local people, we paid a visit with representatives of various organisations. We found that the islet itself was hoed for sand. Who will wipe the tears of hundreds of people here who survive alongside such atrocities against nature? This is what bothers us and we will fight until they get justice”, said Alvin D’Souza, President of Catholic Sabha Mangalore.
President of Mother Theresa Forum Roy Castalino stated that he had heard about the issues at islet from many people. Terming the situation a ‘crime against humanity’, he said what he witnessed hjere had hurt him deeply. “I am afraid that this money minded illegal business will destroy the lives of local people. We will fight against this mafia which robs the naturally available sand and also avoids paying any tax”, he added.
Helen D’Souza, another resident of the islet, said that she came to the island 45 years ago after her marriage. “My husband’s family has lived here for three generations. The islet, which was vast, has become smaller from last few years. The families here live with a constant fear of death now”, she stated.
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Islamabad locked down ahead of planned protest by Imran Khan's party in Pakistan
Islamabad (PTI): Amid stringent measures put in place by the Pakistan government to thwart the protest march on Sunday, jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party is preparing to proceed with its highly anticipated march towards Islamabad.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has called on the public to join the march to "break the shackles of slavery."
The federal government has taken several steps to block the protest, including deploying heavy security forces, sealing key roads, and setting up barriers around the capital.
The Interior Ministry has emphasised that, in accordance with court orders, no protests or sit-ins will be allowed in Islamabad, and any attempts to disrupt public order will be met with legal action.
Khan, in a statement, urged the masses to unite for the protest, calling it a movement for freedom and justice.
The PTI leaders earlier on Sunday held a high-level meeting at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s House to finalise the strategy for the planned protest, Geo News reported.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that he will arrive in Swabi at 3pm to oversee the preparations for the planned protest and lead the party's march to Islamabad, the report added.
The chief minister also directed the party's activists intending to attend the march to reach Swabi by 3pm.
Ignoring calls by the government to postpone the protest – the second one in as many months – Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) declared to go ahead with its planned march to Islamabad coinciding with the arrival of a large Belarusian delegation even as the authorities issued a warning of a potential threat during the protest.
The PTI gave a call last week for a long march to Islamabad to press for three demands: the release of the incarcerated party founder and other leaders, against the alleged “stolen mandate” during February 8 elections and restoration of the judiciary by revoking the recent 26th amendment to the Constitution that granted legislators more power in appointing top judges.
Meanwhile, Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has opted not to participate in the protest but will oversee the convoys from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister's House.
In preparation for the protest, Islamabad’s federal government has fortified security measures, sealing off several key roads and blocking routes leading to the Red Zone, where critical government buildings are located.
Containers have been placed across the city, including along the Srinagar Highway, GT Road, and the Expressway, limiting access to strategic areas like D-Chowk, Islamabad Airport, and the A-11 point at New Margalla Road.
Rangers, along with police and Frontier Constabulary (FC), have been deployed to monitor the area. The federal government has also warned against any unlawful protests, stating that no one will be permitted to hold a demonstration in violation of judicial orders, with legal action promised against any violators.
Also, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train services between Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar in light of the ongoing PTI protest, the Express Tribune reported.
According to railway authorities, services between Peshawar and Rawalpindi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, as well as between Multan and Faisalabad to Rawalpindi, have been halted immediately.
Additionally, all 25 train bookings for Sunday, November 24, have been cancelled, and passengers will receive immediate refunds for their tickets.
The suspension of services and the cancellation of bookings have impacted daily commuters and travellers, as Pakistan Railways responds to the security situation surrounding the ongoing protests.
Section 144 – which prohibits gatherings of individuals – has been in effect in Islamabad since November 18. On the other hand, the Punjab government too has enforced Section 144 across the province from November 23 to November 25, banning protests, public gatherings, rallies, and sit-ins.
Despite the heightened security and restrictions, the PTI has remained persistent about proceeding with its protest march and subsequent sit-in to press for its demands.
Additionally, internet and mobile services have been partially suspended in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab as a precaution.
Users in Islamabad are facing partial disruptions in internet services at various locations, while it remains unhindered in neighbouring Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, mobile services also remain fully operational in Rawalpindi.
Public transport, including metro bus services in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, has been halted, and all bus terminals at Faizabad, linking the twin cities, have been barricaded.
Khan, 72, has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He has been in Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since last year facing, according to his party, over 200 cases; got bail in some of them, convicted in some others, and hearings going on for some more.
Khan's party won the largest number of seats in the February general elections despite contesting as independents as the party was denied an election symbol and the PTI chief has already alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partners, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had “stolen the mandate” to grab power at the federal level.
Relations between the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government -already tense since Khan’s ouster in 2022 - have strained even more in recent times.
