Team Herald
BICHOLIM: Khanyale villagers withdrew their week-long hunger strike following Sindhudurg District Collector Anil Patil’s directive stopping operations of stone quarries and crushing units as well as transportation near the Tillari Dam, until further orders.
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The directive is in response to the protests by Khanyale villagers over illegal mining activities in the area.
Approximately, seven such units were operational in the ecologically-sensitive region using limited period minor mineral mining permits. The decision has been taken following discussion with the officials which pointed out that the mining activities can have detrimental impact on the Tillari Dam as well as water in the village, states the order issued by the Collector dated March 11, 2025.
The villagers from Khanyale were protesting against illegal mining units and quarrying operations in close proximity to the Tillari Dam.
“We have withdrawn our hunger strike after the Sindhudurg Collector issued the order,” Vasant Naik, a villager, spearheading the protest against illegal quarrying and crushing units, on Thursday, told O Heraldo.
“I commend the villagers for their efforts in putting an end to the illegal mining units and quarrying operations in close proximity to the Tillari Dam. The Maharashtra government should issue a permanent stoppage order for such illegal activities in the area,” renowned Goan environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said.
The Tillari Dam, situated in Maharashtra, is a joint project with Goa and plays a crucial role in supplying water to both States.
Tiger sighted in camera
trap tech at Khanyale
PANJIM: A tiger has been sighted in camera trap technique at Shinrage, Khanyale in Dodamarg, thereby reiterating the presence of eight tigers in the Mangeli and Amboli regions of Maharashtra.
According to information available, a male tiger “T-40” was spotted in the camera trap laid by the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and the Sawantwadi Forest Division under the guidance of conservation biologist Girish Punjabi.
Confirming the presence of tigers in Mangeli and Amboli wildlife corridor across the Goa border, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said, “Presence of eight tigers in the Mangeli and Amboli regions have already been proved. A male tiger was recently captured in the camera trap technique at Shirange, Khanyale in Dodamarg taluka and the officials of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and Sawantwadi forest division are closely monitoring the happenings.”
According to Kerkar, during the tiger census conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in 2022, presence of five tigers has been proved through camera trap technique in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kerkar has demanded that the government should take necessary steps to stop quarrying and haphazard mining activities going on inside the ecological and hydrological sensitive areas of the Tillari reservoir.
