On Monday, June 24, Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh, Dakshina Kannada Samana Manaska Sanghatanegala Janti Vedike and residents urged the district administration to permanently ban illicit sand mining at Pavoor-Uliya Kudru in Netravathi River so as to save the lives of Kudru inhabitants.
They were joined by organizations such as Roy Castelino, Muneer Katipalla, Manjula Nayak, Sunil Kumar Bakjal and others in presenting this memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner M.P. Mullai Muhilan here. They further visited the site in Kudru on Monday morning where they showed how illegal sand extraction was affecting it and its people.
It was pointed out that although there is no permit for extracting sand, the mafia has been engaged in illegal excavation causing a significant reduction in size of Kudru. However due to unregulated sand mining activities around them, these mangroves inhabited by about 55 families are on the verge of total obliteration. It demanded for action against those who are involved in illegal sand mining around Ullal taluk’s jurisdiction- Konaje Police limits but within which The Kuduru falls under Ullal Taluk (Udupi District) Police Station limits..
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have opined that the island was CRZ-1 sensitive area hence no permission could be given for taking out sands . The delegation informed that on November 28th 2014 then DC A.B.Ibrahim had issued a prohibition order on sand extraction within a radius of 1km around the Kudru due to the numerous complaints regarding illegal sand mining.
After some time of interruption, this illicit activity was resumed with the mafia eradicating all mangrove forests and other vegetation that marked the outer belt of the Kudru. The Kudru is under direct attack by mafia that has stripped it step by step along its edge. Each time when residents complain to police, mafia collects information about them and threatens them.
Three generations
The pastor of Uliya-Kudru Infant Jesus Shrine, Fr Manohar D’Souza told them that more than fifty families who have lived there for three generation are facing eviction as a result of uncontrolled removal of sand from their island.
Mr Gilbert D’Souza, another resident disclosed that though Mr. Ibrahim had banned sand mining at Valachhil, Pavoor, Gadigadde and Adyar, this Kuduru spread over approximately 100 acres has been reduced to half. Hundreds of migrant labourers engaged in sand mining with mafia backing were threatening local people according to him.
He said there had been repeated demands for a bridge linking Uliya Kudru with Adyar but nothing was done by the administration. He added that during summer residents built temporary bridges across Adyar with community’s support while during rainy season only boats could be used as means of transportation.
