On Thursday, while handing over a memorandum with the signatures of 230 locals to the Deputy Collector, Mamlatdar, Ponda DySP and transport officials, they threatened to personally stop the vehicles if no action was taken. Their warning was backed by the July 2 incident, in which they stopped a few sand-laden trucks plying in the village.
According to local Dinesh Naik, the residents did not care whether the sand extraction was legal or not. However, they were worried about the sand-transport trucks, which were driven rashly and not according to the timings set by locals at the gram sabha. “Sand extraction is booming in our area since the last two month. With the trucks lined in traffic, we feel as if we are in a mining area. Whether it is day or night, they are only bothered about increasing their trips. If they are not bothered about our children and us, why should we tolerate them? Some of them drink and drive and some even drive on neutral on the four-kilometre slope at Savoi Verem. The authorities are turning a blind eye despite the locals informing them about the issue from time to time. We suspect that there is connivance between truck operators and government officials,” said Naik.
He continued, “The locals made several requests and resolutions in the gram sabha asking the drivers not to ply in the village from 6 pm to 9 am and from 1 pm to 2 pm. Despite several requests, they continue to violate the rules. The lives of our children and youth travelling for jobs are at risk.”
The locals were also surprised over the police’s move to release the seized trucks after only imposing a fine. They will hold a meeting with the panchayats of Savoi Verem, Volvoi, and Betki-Khandola on July 12 at the Savoi Verem panchayat hall to take a final decision on their demand.
Meanwhile, Dy SP Sunita Sawant assured to take action against the trucks and to inform the mines department as the matter concerned it. She said she would definitely take action as she is concerned about the safety of school children and the locals.
