SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PERNEM: In a one of its kind of agitation in the history of Pernem, farmers, villagers and social activists performed Jal Andolan (water protest) at Bailpar in Casarvane village on Sunday demanding the government to stop the ongoing work of a new pump house alleging that the project is completely illegal, and once completed, will affect the water supply of Pernem taluka as a whole.
For almost 5 hours the protestors stood and sat in the water in protest. The protestors including villagers of Casarvane and Bailpar, Baburao Gad, Uday Mahale, farmer Vithu Naik, women, youth and even small children were supported by Swapnil Sherlekar, advocate and social worker Prasad Shahapurkar and several others participated in the protest.
The protest continued till the Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar arrived and told the villagers that he would meet the Water Resources Department to understand the purpose of the project. Arlekar said that if he concludes that the project is not for the benefit of the people of Pernem then he will stand with them and oppose it.
Adv Prasad Shahapurkar said, “We want the project to stop. Our Jal Andolan is to create awareness amongst the people of Pernem taluka how this project is going to harm the taluka”,
Shahapurkar further informed that during a meeting held with officials, people were told that the WRD is making provision of water for the month of October onwards. This pump house will release river water into the Tillari canal during those months. Along with this, water will be pumped for irrigation, the Tuem Industrial area, and the Mopa airport. “The Mopa airport, he said has asked for 4.5 MLD water but the government is ready to give 5 MLD. This project is coming up at Bailpar because it is near these projects. This issue will not only affect villages in this area but overall Pernem taluka”, Shahapurkar added.
For several months, the villagers, especially farmers, are battling to stop the ongoing work of the pump house at the Bailpar riverbank. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 26 crore. “Taxpayers’ money is being wasted and this project will badly affect the water supply in the whole of Pernem taluka”, Uday Mahale, a villager said.
“A 15 MLD plant exists. Also work on another plant of 15 MLD is ongoing. If the government wants to provide better water supply to people then instead of augmenting the plant by another 15 MLD, they should increase the capacity. Both these plants will pump water from Bailpar River then what is the need of this third pump house? This third pump house is to release more water into the Tillari canal in order to give water to corporate projects. If three plants continue to pump water, the river will dry”, Baburao Gad, another villager said.
Meanwhile, another main reason for the protest is that neither the villagers nor the panchayat were taken into confidence before taking up the project work. “Just because it is a government project, people are not going to accept it. Projects which are harmful to the environment will be objected to. What is the purpose of this pump house and what is the guarantee that it will not affect the water level of Bailpar River”, the people asked.
"This is a Central government project so we cannot oppose it or stop the work without understanding its purpose. I will schedule a meeting with concerned department officials along with villagers and discuss the project. I assure you that if the project does not benefit the people, then I will back their opposition” Pravin Arlekar, Pernem MLA said.
