Illegal and destructive TNN | Mar 11, 2015, 09.00 PM IST Times Panchanama: Nadora-Bardez
Isidore Domnick Mendes Like many villages in Goa which are fighting for survival due to overexploitation of natural resources, Nadora, sandwiched between the villages of Revora in the west and Pirna in the east, and crisscrossed by the River Chapora, is also fighting for its existence. The 1,500 residents of this interior village in Bardez taluka, who live in five vaddos including Ranache Juvem, Madant, Gawant, Wadi and Kadshal, are unhappy as the misery piled upon them due to illegal extraction of sand in the village is being carried out unabated. There are 25 boats involved in the illegal sand extraction business. Most of the owners of these boats are from the neighboring villages of Pirna, Dhargalim, Revora, and Ozarim. On an average, one boat can extract 15m of sand. Villagers are worried that there is absolutely no control on the illegal extraction of sand even though its extractors have crossed all limits of demarcated areas. The vaddos of Ranache Juvem and Kadshal are the worst hit by sand extraction. "Nadora is passing through a trying phase caused by illegal sand extraction. The village is facing the threat of landslides. Many trees, including coconut trees, have got uprooted by ecological upheavals caused by rampant and unchecked illegal mining in our village. The people of Nadora are becoming pessimistic about their future in the village, which is facing the onslaught unleashed by sand mining," states deputy sarpanch and ex-sarpanch Datta Redkar. In Goa, the demand for sand started with the inception of the Konkan railway. "The building of Konkan railway in 1990 and a simultaneous boom in construction activity resulted in high demand for sand extraction. In my younger days, one meter of sand would cost Rs 25, but, today the same quantity will fetch not less than Rs 1,000," said Redkar. The villagers also lament that sand extraction has led to the reduction in water supply for agricultural activity. "Sand extraction has led to the water table going down by at least 15m and as a direct impact, the water supply for agriculture has diminished, drastically. The cultivation of traditional crops like chilly, onion, vegetables, Alsondo (Rajma) have decreased over the years," says Pandurang Gawas of Wadi. Another bane of sand extraction is that it has led to the stationing of an over 200-strong migrant labour force hailing from UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Nepal in the village. The villagers doubt the antecedents of these people. "The villagers feel scared to go around the village as night sets in, as none of these workers possess important documents like police verification certificates and health cards. These are two vital documents which throw light on the background of the person, that he is not a criminal, as well as not suffering from something contagious. These employees also do not have a sanitation facility and they openly defecate in the open," says Nivrutti Gawas from Wadi. The panchayat, too, wants sand extraction to end due to the problems it has given to both, the people and the village. "The panchayat wants a ban on illegal sand extraction as it is getting nothing, but, misery to Nadora. The issue has been discussed threadbare in the gram sabha. It is creating all-round environmental disturbance. We are afraid that our village might soon be a victim of a landslide. The illegal activity does not fetch the local body even a single paisa," says sarpanch Kamlakar Gawas. The local MLA wants the extraction of sand to be legalized. "I am against illegal sand extraction. In particular, parts of Nadora like Ranache Juvem are prone to ecological threats solely caused by incessant extraction of sand. I am a firm believer in legalizing sand extraction as it will regulate the activity and at the same time, lead to earning of revenue both, by the state government as well as the respective village panchayat. Sand is one of the very basic components for construction activity and for development purpose, Goa cannot ignore sand," says Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar. Problem Problem No playground Nadora residents lament that the village still does not have a playground. "It is really a sad state of affairs that Nadora, till date, does not have a proper playground for its children to play in. Our village is not blessed like other villages in Goa which have modern playgrounds," laments both Datta Redkar and Nivrutti Gawas. Bal Bhavan needed Residents desire that the village must have a cultural centre which will hone the talents of the youngsters. "Our village also seriously lacks an avenue to train our youngsters in varied social activities like music, dance, singing, painting etc. It will be of immense value if the state government constructs a Bal Bhavan in the village, as it would harness the artistic qualities of our children to compete with their peer groups outside Nadora," says Pandurang Gawas of Wadi. Burden on infra A villager, on condition of anonymity, states, "The upcoming 5-star hotel at Madant vaddo, in all likelihood, will affect the already limited underdeveloped infrastructure such as water, electricity, roads, garbage management etc. The issue of the hotel has already been discussed in the gram sabha." Top View The panchayat wants a ban on illegal sand extraction as it is getting nothing, but, misery to Nadora Kamlakar Gawas, sarpanch I am against illegal sand extraction. I believe it should be legalized, so it will earn revenue for the state government and the village panchayat Kiran Kandolkar, MLA People's take Nadora is passing through a trying phase caused by illegal sand extraction. The village is facing the threat of landslides Datta Redkar, deputy sarpanch Sand extraction has led to the water table going down by at least 15m and as a direct impact, the water supply for agriculture has diminished drastically Pandurang Gawas, resident Migrant labourers, who work in the sand extraction business, live in the village. They don't possess police verification certificates nor health cards Nivrutti Gawas, resident Trivia Nadora village is known for its spring and the majestic 400-year-old Goddess Mauli temple. The village has been a home to many freedom fighters like late Jaisinghrao Rane, who was also ex-MLA in the first legislative assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu and late Lydes Luda Gawas. The village was also home to famous cultural artists in Marathi theatre, such as late Hari Govind Gawas, late Waman Dessai , late Rama Gawas, Shankar Nadodkar ,Ganga Ram Gawas and Pandurang Yashwant Naik. Nadora has also produced musicians including 'ghumot' players like the late Bala Gawas, Vishnu Gawas and Vijay Gawas. The Ganesh Ghumot Aarti Mandal of the village, is renowned all over Goa. Physically-challenged Prerana Gawas, a noted harmonium player, hails from the village. The latest Goan to be inducted into IPS (Indian Police Service), Arvind Gawas, also hails from Nadora.
