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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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
