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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Will continue to keep tab on development work in Bihar: Nitish to JD(U) MLAs
Patna (PTI): JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Monday told party legislators that he will continue to keep a tab on the development work in Bihar despite having given up the chief minister's post a week ago.
Kumar addressed a meeting of the legislative party at 1, Anney Marg, which is the official residence of the chief minister and which the JD(U) supremo, now a Rajya Sabha MP, had occupied for nearly two decades.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, "Our party leader has said that except for sessions of Parliament, which would require his presence in Delhi, he will spend his maximum time in Bihar."
"Nitish Kumar told us that he will ensure that the good work done while he was in power continues under the new government, in which the JD(U) is an important partner. To keep a tab, he will tour the state in due course," Neeraj Kumar said.
The JD(U) spokesperson was asked about speculations that the meeting had been convened to decide on the role to be assigned to Nishant, the party supremo's son, who joined the JD(U) last month, but has declined to accept a ministerial berth in the Samrat Choudhary government.
"There is no confusion about the role of Nishant, who has been accepted by the party as the leader of the future. In any case, there was no discussion on him today," Neeraj Kumar said.
Nitish Kumar has been authorised by the legislators to decide on choosing the legislative party leader, he added.
Among those present at the meeting were Union minister and former JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' and Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav.
Interestingly, don turned politician Anant Kumar Singh, who represents Mokama assembly seat, claimed after the meeting that MLAs were asked by the supreme leader to try and win "200 seats in the next elections".
"Nitish Kumar ji told us that he will now be more easily available for party workers and general public. He also said that he will extensively tour the state and asked us to work hard so that the party wins 200 seats in the next elections", said Singh, who is often in news for putting his foot in the mouth.
The Bihar assembly is 243-strong and the JD(U)'s current tally is 85, four less than ally BJP, which is the single largest party.
The JD(U)'s best-ever performance was in 2010, when it had contested 142 seats and won 115 of these. It was also the highest tally for any single party since Bihar's truncation in 2000, until when Jharkhand was part of the state and assembly had 324 seats.
