Mangaluru: Protest held against illegal sand mining in Pavoor Uliya Island

Mangaluru:  A protest march and rally were organized in Mangaluru on Friday, led by the Catholic Sabha, Mangaluru Area Unit, against illegal sand mining in Pavoor Uliya Island, part of Ullal taluk. The residents of the island allege that the illegal mining has made it difficult to sustain their livelihoods.

The rally, which began from Balmatta Circle, concluded in front of the Mini Vidhana Soudha with a public meeting. Thousands, including island residents and leaders from various organizations, participated in the event.

Former president of the Catholic Sabha, Paul Rolfy D’Costa, addressed the gathering, stating that the situation for island residents is dire. “Those who do not go for daily wage work struggle to survive, as illegal sand mining has made life unbearable for the residents. Despite repeated appeals to the district administration and the Department of Mines and Geology, no action has been taken. Illegal sand mining continues unchecked in Pavoor Uliya, Ranipur Uliya, and Ullal Hoige islands, putting houses in these areas at risk,” he said.

DYFI’s former state president, Muneer Katipalla, claimed that the entire system was complicit with illegal sand miners, allowing this activity to continue unabated. He warned that if the situation persists, protests will be staged by island residents in front of Ullal, Konaje, and Vamanjoor police stations.

Roy Castelino, Public Relations Officer of the Mangaluru Diocese, emphasized that the fight against illegal sand mining would continue relentlessly.

The protest meeting was attended by various religious leaders, area leaders, and activists. Key speakers included Alwyn D’Souza, president of the Catholic Sabha; Sunil Kumar Bajal, secretary-general of the Mother Teresa Vichara Vedike; and former president of the Sabha, Stany Lobo. Local representative Gilbert D’Souza also voiced his concerns on behalf of the residents.

Several prominent individuals, including Sadashiva Ullal, Fr. J.B. Saldanha, Alwyn Monteiro, Manjula Nayak, Santosh D’Souza, Yadav Shetty, Shashidhar Shetty, B.K. Imtiyaz, Jeet Milan, L.J. Fernandes, and Gerald D’Costa, were present at the event.