PERNEM: As illegal sand extraction continues to haunt Ugvem villagers, they filed another memorandum before the Deputy Collector and other authorities complaining against the same and demanded strict action.
The memorandum was submitted to Deputy Collector Deepak Vaigankar, Pernem Mamlatdar Anant Malik, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar and others. The Ugave Gram Sangharsh Samiti complained that rampant illegal sand extraction had a negative impact on the environment and ecology.
The Samiti said that even after High Court passed orders imposing complete ban on sand extraction, the activities have continued during the late night hours under cover of darkness where sand is directly loaded in trucks and tippers at Porascadem and Amere in the morning.
Villagers pointed that presence of the labourers stationed at Porascadem near the bridge, Gaonkar and Catholic Vaddo at Poroscodem, behind service station, Cansulem, Amerem, Torxem and on the road to Nigal where evidence of illegal sand extraction is seen.
Vinayak Mahale former sarpanch of Ugvem-Mopa-Tamboxem panchayat and member of the samiti said, “Most of the people involved in this activities are from Porascadem, Amere and Torxem who have damaged the river and the banks of river within the jurisdiction of Ugvem village which has led to erosion of agricultural land. Sand extraction activity is completely banned in the State. The orders of the court are also crystal clear but the sand extraction activities have continued which is completely in violation of the court orders. Strict action is required as these activities are carried out during the night under the cover of darkness,” Mahale said.
Uday Mahale, another villager said, “Before we could even complain or the police could reach the spot, the people involved in the illegal act would become aware and they would disappear. We don’t know how they even get to know that police are coming. Even when there are court orders in place, the extraction activities have continued. The authorities such as the mines department, captain of ports and other departments do not have any control over these activities,” Mahale informed.
Samiti members further demanded for regular patrolling along the river by police as well as coastal police. The department should conduct a survey and identify the boats which are seen docked along the river and to take stringent action, they said.
