Disregarding the ban on illegal sand extraction, a number of sand extractors have been openly extracting sand from the Chapora River at Colvale in broad daylight and these activities have posed a serious threat to structures lying close to the riverbank, including the Colvale church.
On Saturday, about 20 motorboats were seen extracting sand from the Chapora River at about 10 am, even as the local panchayat expressed helplessness in curbing the illegalities. Tivim MLA Kiran Khandolkar said he was not aware of the sand extraction and later suggested that “some poor people” could be extracting sand for a livelihood.
“I have seen around 35 boats extracting sand and the amount of sand extracted daily will destroy the ecology. It has also endangered the church, since the church and its compound wall are right near the river and the church could collapse in the future. Three small islands have already disappeared, while only three small islands are left in the river,” remarked Colvale Parish Priest Fr Simao Rodrigues.
A resident of Colvale, Advocate Domnic Periera, told Herald that the extracted sand is being dumped in church property.
“They (sand extractors) are using motorized boats, so that they can escape and make more trips. They also extract sand close to the bridge and that in itself could pose a danger to the bridge,” said Pereira.
Servo Fernandes, attorney of Colvale Comunidade, told Herald that there had been no reply of action from any of the authorities, in connection with their complaint on August 28, 2012 regarding unabated sand extraction in Colvale.
“Earlier, locals use to dive and remove sand and now there are migrants from as far as UP who extract sand. Presently, the sand extractors sell sand for more than Rs 1,000 per cubic metre, but yet they refuse to pay rent to the church for using the land to dump the sand,” said Fernandes.
When contacted, Tivim MLA Kiran Khandolkar told Herald that he was not aware of any large-scale sand extraction.
“To my knowledge, sand extraction has stopped at Colvale. If at all there is extraction, it could be some poor people extracting sand for their livelihood. But nobody has brought to my notice any large scale sand extraction,” said Khandolkar.
On the other hand, Colvale Sarpanch Nelam Naik said she was “helpless in the matter.” “I am helpless, as the panchayat cannot take any action as it is not the authority to take action. The authorities concerned should act in the matter,” said Naik.
