Repair works to take two months
TEAM HERALD
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BICHOLIM/MAYEM: A large number of farmers in north and south Goa will find it difficult to irrigate their crops, after almost 25 to 30 metres of the Tillari canal was breached at Sateli on Tuesday morning. Around four metres was also washed away. Officials say that cracks are yet to be repaired on the damaged portion of the Selaulim irrigation canal at Bethmoddi-Quepem.
Farmers from Awadi-Sateli in Maharashtra, at about 8 am, noticed that the water was leaking from the canal and informed the Irrigation Department. These reports were allegedly initially ignored. Sources informed that due to the high embankments there was stagnation of water leading to the canal breach and repair work could even take some two months, though officials are refusing to make a time estimate.
However, at about 9 am the side walls of the canal breached and water entered the nearby fields with full force. The muddy water damaged crops of about 20 farmers and covered an area of 50 acres of farm land. Some farmers who were present in the fields near the canal ran for safety as the water started gushing into their fields.
Officials informed that about four metres of the Tillari canal were washed away and some 25-30 metres breached, according to initial reports.
Soon after the incident, Goa Tillari Irrigation Development Corporation (GTIDC) executive engineer Waghmare, Tehsildar Vijay Talekar, Police Inspector Uday Aafle and others visited the area and conducted the site inspection. Top brass led by Managing Director, T J Kamat are to visit the site of the breach for a proper inspection. WRD Minister Dayanand Mandrekar will also visit the site to take stock.
Reports quote the chief minister as saying that in case the repairs cannot be completed within a month, alternatives would have to be planned.
Vegetable growing areas of Bicholim and Sal have already suffered after water supply was stopped recently by striking residents demanding compensation.
“Water supply has been stopped. We will be going for an inspection tomorrow,” Kamat told media, informing that preliminary reports say that there was a 25 to 30 metre breach.
“We will have to discuss how to supply water to the Bicholim area,” he said adding that they may go with a proposal asking them to make an attempt (arrangements) to supply water to those areas in some other way. He said that they do not know how long the construction would take and a final decision would be taken only after the inspection.
Meanwhile, demanding compensation, farmers from Sateli accused the Maharashtra government for their low quality work.
“We demand compensation for the losses due to the breach. Till then we will not allow the authorities to carry out any repair work in the area,” warned the farmers.
It may be recalled that the work on Tillari canal comprising left and right canals commenced in 1987. The right canal is 23 kms long and has seven distributaries and covers an area of 4,254 hectares supplying water to entire Pernem taluka. The left canal is 35 kms long and covers an area of 5,130 hectares for Bicholim, while 5,437 hectares for Bardez taluka.
However, most parts of Bardez taluka have not come under it as far as distribution of water is concerned as the work is going on at many places. Under such circumstances, the major areas affected are Bicholim and Pernem talukas.
Farmers from Sal, Wadawal, Latambarcem, Menkurem, Kumyamal, Kholpewadi and surrounding areas in Bicholim taluka will face acute water problems.
“Villagers will face acute water problem due to the incident. However, I will support them under the present situation and I will also request Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to look into the matter and make alternative water arrangements,” said Sal Sarpanch Ghanashyam Raut.
Latambarcem Deputy Sarpanch Babanrao Rane said saving the farms is the need of the hour as there is a possibility of a threat to the plantations of villagers due to the incident.
Bicholim legislator Naresh Sawal said Goa is once again facing a problem due to Tillari canal water and under such circumstances it is necessary to solve the issue by providing water by alternative solution.
