PAWAN WADA, QUER-IM: For now, the canoes lie still. Since January 11, 2026, boats allegedly used for illegal sand mining at Pawan Wada in Querim have been hauled ashore, bringing a hush to a stretch of the Terekhol river long scarred by nocturnal extraction. Villagers are cautiously hopeful but few believe the silence will last.
Sand mining at Pawan Wada has continued for years despite being banned by the Bombay High Court (Goa Bench) in PIL WP No. 14 of 2018, in a judgment delivered on December 12, 2019, by Justices M.S. Jawalkar and M.S. Sonak. According to local resident Mahadev Shirodkar, mining operations ran brazenly from 2 am till dusk. On December 26, 2025, Shirodkar wrote to the secretary of the Que-rim Village Panchayat, formally complaining about the illegal activity. That letter triggered a chain of events that would see him allegedly threatened and the sand-mining boats abruptly pulled out of the river.
With no visible action forthcoming, Shirodkar escalated the matter. On January 5, 2026, he wrote to the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Officer stating that 25 canoes were extracting sand illegally from the Terekhol river at night, directly in front of the Coastal Police Station. Three days later, the intimidation began. Around 2 pm on January 9, a group of nearly 35 people arrived at the Shirodkar residence, alleges his wife, Madhuri Shirodkar. “They threatened the family and left us in shock,” she said. The family called the police, but help came only three hours later. “We were not surprised,” Madhuri added. “One of the men openly said the police would not come because powerful politicians were backing them.” Salim Sheikh, SDPO of Pernem taluka, acknowledged hearing of the incident. “The police should not have taken so long. I will check with the inspector and get back,” he said. He has not responded since. Word of the threats spread quickly through Querim, and support for Shirodkar followed but quietly. “We have endured this illegality out of fear,” said a villager, requesting anonymity. “We are glad
someone finally stood up, but we are scared of what could happen.” Shirodkar recalled that there was a time when his wife told. him she would leave with their son and go to her parents if he continued the fight. “I told her she could,” he said, speaking late one night as the village slept. He alleges that soon after filing his complaint, he was approached with an offer of 3.5 lakh to with-draw it. “I refused,” he said. Environmental activists warn that indiscriminate sand extraction could alter the river’s topography and eventually flood the area.
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On learning of the threats, Advocate Viraj Bakre sent an email at 9.30 pm on January 9 to the Chief Secretary, Goa Police, Captain of Ports, Director of Mines and the Deputy Superintendent of Coastal Police. “Illegal sand mining continues unabated in all the rivers in Goa,” Bakre wrote. “The activity is increasing day by day as authorities are not taking any action.” The Goa Rivers Sand Protectors Network an offshoot of the Goa Foundation, has filed three contempt petitions before the Bombay High Court and 11 cases be-fore the National Green Tribunal, yet enforcement remains weak, Bakre claimed. For now, enforcement appears visible. Canoes rest on the shore at Pawan Wada, some reportedly hauled up by cranes, while piles of sand – apparently freshly extract-ed-still dot the riverbank. Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues said his office is part of the High Court-mandated flying squad. “Whenever there is an inspection, our staff is deputed. Any canoe handed over to us is cut into pieces,” he said, adding that the last such seizure was on May 5, 2025 involving a suction pump.
Querimsarpanch Dharti Nagoji, however, denied knowledge of sand mining activity in the village. “I came to know only after receiving a complaint and immediately ordered an inspection,” she said. “The Coastal Police station is locat-ed where they claim mining is taking place.” As the river remains quiet, villagers are unconvinced the pause will last. “Let the Assembly session get over,” one resident said grimly. “Then you’ll see.” For now, Querim waits wary that the calm along the Terekhol may be temporary.
