NIGHT VIGIL TO PREVENT THE SAND MINING AT VELI, TRIVANDRUM
Veli a costal village in Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala is facing
the problem of sand mining in boats. Daily hundreds of boats sand is being
shifting from the sea shore which creates lots of ecological imbalance in
the costal region. When the last sea erosion happened 18 houses have been
fully demolished and 25 houses has been partially destroyed in addition to
that lot of coconut trees have been uprooted by the waves. The people of
the locality is now aware of the reason for all these mishaps, so they
come forward to prevent the sand shifting; since the sand shifting is a
crime so they are doing it at night. Now the people are vigilant through
out the night to prevent the same. People are helping the police
department to book the culprits. As revenge to the same the sand miners
had attacked the fish vending women. Fish vending women as detained the
police personals in the station; by the timely intervention of Rev. Fr.
Cletus Gomes,Ward Councilor Mr. Veli Varghese, T Peter, A Lukose the
problem has been pacified for time being. As a result of the agitation six
culprits were booked by the police and the boats and equipments used for
the sand mining were taken in to custody.
The night vigil by the Seashore Protection Forum has created a great
impact in the near by villages also, they are also planning to protect the
sea shore in line with Veli village.
Every night the strike starts at 09.00 PM and ends in the early morning by
04.00 AM. All villages are in turn part of the strike. A team of
youngsters are patrolling though the sea shore in small boats with search
lights like watch guards. The fisher men are very determent not to allow
any body for sand mining; and they are actively involved in the preventive
strike.
T.Peter
http://www.keralafishworkers.org
http://www.alakal.net
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