ALERT PAIKUL VILLAGERS TWART AN ATTEMPT BY THE MINING LOBBY TO RESTART MINING

VALPOI: Officials from the Forest Department seized a vehicle carrying mining machinery from Paikul village late evening on Thursday. Suspecting foul play over the presence of a vehicle with mining machinery near the Bondla wildlife sanctuary check- post on January 25, villagers had alerted the anti-mining activists. However, before any action could be taken, the driver bypassed the check-post and diverted the machinery from a remote road and entered into the Paikul village on Thursday.

When locals questioned the driver over the vehicle, they were allegedly told that it has been brought to restart mining at the site located in the village. They further alerted the forest department’s mobile squad.

When a team of forest officials enquired with the driver Anil Naik and Sachindra Naik both natives of Ankola, Karwar, they failed to produce the relevant documents. They were eventually nabbed for illegally intruding in the forest area under Forest Act and after conducting panchanama the vehicle carrying the machinery was also detained.

The forest officials including Mr Subhash Henreque, Mr GT Kumar, Mr Daraji Naik, Mr Laxman Naik, Mr Kashinath Konadkar, Mr Deepak Mahile, Mr Kalpesh Naik and others were involved in nabbing the culprits. Further investigation is on.

Meanwhile, villagers in the area have accused the government of turning a blind eye towards illegal mining. Also, members of Satari Jagruk Yuva Morcha have strongly condemned the attempt to restart mining in the forest area as the villagers of Paikul will be the worst sufferers. They have sought intervention of the government in the matter and asked the forest department not to release the vehicle.