Team Herald
SANGUEM: The villagers of Mugoli in Sanguem successfully thwarted attempts by illegal sand extraction by neighbouring villagers in Sanguem River.
Panchayat member Uday Narba Desai along with other villagers had noticed some persons illegally extracting sand in Mugoli village with the help of a boat since last couple of days. However, as the operation was done under the cover of darkness and in the early morning hours, the villagers could not take suitable action against the illegal sand extractors.
But on Friday, much to the surprise of the villagers, the illegal sand extractors continued their illegal operation in the broad daylight.
Soon a large number of villagers led by Uday Narba Desai came together to oppose the illegal operations in the village. After seeing the villagers and anticipating trouble, the illegal sand extractors stopped the illegal activity midway and escaped from the village with half load of sand in their boat.
Desai informed that under no circumstances the villagers would allow the illegal activity of sand extraction in the village. He pointed out that the Sanguem River is a meeting point of three rivers. In addition the excess water from Selaulim Dam also flows into Sanguem River making Sanguem River swell particularly during monsoon.
Desai claimed that if the illegal sand extraction continues in Sanguem River there are chances that the river bank would be washed away causing damage to the residential houses located close to the river bank in the village.
“Under no circumstances, the villagers of Mugoli will allow illegal sand extraction in the village,” asserted another villager Vinod Gaonkar.
Similar views were also expressed by Chandrakant Gaonkar, Prakash Gaonkar and Rajaram Gaonkar.
Meanwhile, the Mugoli villagers have urged the authorities to keep a vigil on the activity of illegal sand extraction in the village.
