TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Residents of Verem-Vaghurme Panchayat have threatened to agitate to demand stoppage of illegal sand transportation, which goes unabated throughout night.
The decision was taken during a special joint meeting of Verem-Vaghurme and Volvoi Panchayats at Verem-Vaghurme Panchayat hall on Friday evening. About 50 residents attended the meeting including some panchayat members from Verem-Vaghurme. However, none of the panchayat members from Volvoi Panchayat attended the meeting.
Villagers claim that with ban on sand extraction, people into the sand extraction business have allegedly opted to carry out sand transportation at night.
According to information, the people into extraction business are mostly locals however trucks used to transport the sand are from outside the village.
“The sand transportation starts at night and continues till early morning. We have objection, as it creates noise pollution, disturbing our sleep. There is also a threat to the life of the villagers who return from work late at night as these sand transportation trucks always speeds to make more trips,” claimed a villager, Gurudas Naik.
The issue of sand transportation was discussed during the recent gram sabha and a resolution was passed not to allow sand transportation at night.
“We are not against the people who are into the business. Whether it is legal or illegal, the authorities must keep a check. We do not want sand transportation at night. We had passed a resolution to stop sand transportation from 6 pm till 8 am,” said Savoi-Verem Nagrik Samiti President Anil Verenkar.
As sand transportation didn’t stopped, the panchayat was forced to convene a special joint meeting following villagers’ demand to sort out the issue.
“We have already sent the resolution copies to the authorities concerned regarding the issue of sand transportation at night. We will once again request the authorities to look into the matter. If no action is taken, then villagers will be forced to agitate,” said Verem-Vaghurme Sarpanch Adv Satyawan Palkar.
