Uguem locals experience that sinking feeling after sand extraction violence

Mapusa: Months have gone by since the gunshot incident over illegal sand extraction at Pernem’s Uguem sent shockwaves, disrupting the peace of the otherwise tranquil village.An uneasy silence prevails in a community that otherwise bubbled with camaraderie.

Local residents say, under the condition of anonymity, that no one is willing to breathe a word about the contentious sand mining issue that sparked the initial conflict.Five locals, including two Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn) constables, were arrested for the firing incident over illegal sand extraction that left two migrant workers injured on Oct 27. Out on bail, they have been ordered by the court to strictly comply with the terms of their release.

The villagers, however, are still on tenterhooks. They are now pinning their hopes on the village deity, Shree Devi Mauli, to restore Uguem’s much-needed tranquility.What began as traditional, local need-based sand extraction in the Uguem stretch of the Tiracol river in 1992, has spiralled into an uncontrolled and lethal operation run by a ruthless sand mafia, locals say.Driven by immense demand and greed, the activity shifted to indiscriminate, mechanised dredging, causing catastrophic ecological damage.

This has destabilised the riverbed, leading to severe bank erosion and widespread tree collapses. It has also caused adjacent agricultural fields and low-lying land to sink into the widening river channel. Concerns have even been raised about the stability of the Konkan Railway bridge’s pillars, which are now dangerously exposed due to the erosion.

The illegal trade consequently ignited a vicious turf war among rival groups, culminating in the shooting case on Oct 27.Since the violence involved locals, the village, which had in the past vehemently protested indiscriminate sand extraction, has gone mum. “Our village is sinking, trees are collapsing. The illegal sand business at Uguem is devouring our riverbanks,” says a village elder.A 2019 govt study had warned of the extensive toll on the river bank by rampant sand extraction at Uguem, which is now unfolding before the people’s eyes.“The social life and the environment of the area have been completely disturbed,” says another villager. “The Tiracol river channel is getting wider by the day. Our agricultural fields, which were once fiercely preserved by our ancestors, are now getting dissolved into the river. This is very distressing.”Past clashes, such as a major one at Uguem back in 2017, had already signalled the simmering tension.“Presently, illegal sand extraction has stopped. But danger looms. There is every possibility of a repeat if the illegality continues and if it involves people from outside the state,” Uguem sarpanch Subodh Mahale told TOI.