Hundreds of locals involved in the traditional sand extraction business in rivers are in panic over the frequent raids conducted by the Mines Department, despite paying their fees.
Locals living on banks of Mandovi River at Volvoi, Bethki, below Amona Khandola bridge, Savoiverem, etc in Priol Constituency in Ponda Taluka are facing raids by the flying squad of Mines Department along with Police, Dy Collectors and Ponda Mamlatdar.
“We mortgage our wives’ gold to acquire loans and conduct our business. We fear our survival and livelihood and the future of our children due to these raids,” said the locals.
“We approached the Mines Department and have paid the required fees, but it is almost one and half month now our licences are renewed. Some villagers who are jealous of our sand extracting activities are complaining about our business. For several decades our ancestors survived on this activity and we continue their business. If our business is stopped now, how can we feed our family? Sand extraction is our only income,” the locals claimed.
When a raid was conducted on Wednesday, November 23 at Volvoi around 200 cubic metres of sand stacks on bank of river were seized.
“We have submitted a memorandum to Mines Department for providing us licences early as any delay will affect our livelihood. We can’t live without sand dredging as we are depending on it,” they said. They also demanded that Government should either remove the ban or provide them licences.
“The ban on sand dredging as well raids in Goa has led to sand being imported from other states and also rise in prices. At present for a six metre loaded sand truck, at least Rs 9,500 to Rs 10,000 is charged by the sand supplied from other states. We are losing business because of it even though we are selling at cheaper rate,” said some locals.
The locals said there were no strict laws during olden days when their ancestors used to go and collect the sand. “From October to May we extract sand from the river and have a big demand for construction purposes in Goa. This activity automatically takes a halt during monsoons. Even though the season has commenced the Mines Department has not renewed our licences,” they said.
So far at least four raids have been conducted. On October30, around 520 cubic metre sand and three canoes were seized near Khandola bridge while in another three raids a total of hundreds of cubic metre sand has been seized at different locations at Volvoi, Bethki, Khandola, Amona etc.
When asked the Ponda Joint Mamlatdar Abeer Hede said, “Raids are conducted and sand is seized by Mines Department along with team of other Government Departments. After complaints from locals about illegal activities raids were conducted and sand seized. The sand is extracted without having permission of Mines Department.”
One local Surendra Volvoikar, speaking to Herald, pleaded with the government to provide them renewed licences as early as possible so that their daily livelihood is not affected.
