Heam Herald

MARGAO: Farmers from Chandor Cavorim voiced their strong opposition to the proposed closure of the Paroda canal for one year on grounds that it will affect them adversely as they will be deprived of their stable diet of rice since they depend upon the paddy cultivated to provide them their rice.

At a meeting held recently the farmers raised up this issue with the Sarpanch Celina Coelho who informed them that the panchayat is not aware of any such proposal. Agnelo Fernandes, a farmer from the village referred to a report published in the Herald while raising the matter.

Agnelo demanded that the villagers views have to be considered first before the government takes any suo motto decision on the matter and pointed out that besides paddy cultivators there are horticulturists who are also dependent upon the Paroda canal water.

Another farmer Tiago da Silva pointed out that the water from Paroda canal also helps some like him to grow vegetables which is a big help given the rising prices of vegetables in the market. “The vegetables grown by us are organic and free of any chemicals as against those available in the market and hence our produce is healthier,” he said.

John Douglas Coutinho another farmer from Chandor suggested that instead of closing down the canal for the whole year, the department could carry out the required work in a systematic and planned manner by utilizing the period before the onset of monsoons and after the monsoons recede.

“The water could be stopped soon after the harvesting is done in the last week of April and the works undertaken in the month of May and similarly the remaining work could be completed in September when the monsoons are over,” he said.

The farmers also suggested that instead of calling for one tender for the works of the entire canal, the same could be broken into various segments so that the work can be completed in the stipulated time.

The farmers also suggested that instead of calling for one tender for the works of the entire canal, the same could be broken into various segments thereby giving the work of certain areas to different contractors who would then together be working on the entire canal and finish the work in the stipulated time.

“After all many hands make light work and therefore many contractors working in specific sections would ensure that the entire canal is repaired in record time,” they said.

It would be pertinent to point out that the 17.62 long canal that was built 65 years ago needs urgent repairs as it has eroded at various places due to age. Besides the 19 kms long distributor network in the different panchayat are also showing signs of age with the underground joints breaking now and then and the same needs to be repaired.

The Water Resources Department engineers had suggested closing down the Paroda canal for one full year to enable them to carry out the necessary repairs and liocal MLA Clafasio Dias has already dispatched a letter to the four affected village sarpanchas to convene an extraordinary gram sabha to discuss this matter.