Team Herald

PANJIM: Submerging and flooding of vast khazan lands in Neura, Mandur and Carambolim have forced farmers and villagers through the Khazan Action Committee to demand compensation and revival of khazan crop cultivation.

“The villagers and farmers have voiced strong resentment over the negligence on the part of authorities to take strict action against those who breach the bunds and release saline water through sluice gates resulting in flooding of the khazan farm lands making them impossible to take up farming,” Khazan Action Committee convenor Ramarao Wagh said.

He said that farming was the mainstay of economy of these villages and now there is mass unemployment in the area and also in Kundai and Madkai villages across River Zuari from where the labourers came. 

“This unprecedented situation has also resulted in environmental degradation and uncontrolled rise in mangroves in the farming area rendering it difficult to cultivate. This has also resulted in increase in population of crocodiles which have started attacking the domestic animals,” Wagh said.

At a recent meeting representatives had demanded that they be allowed to cultivate their rightful land by immediately ordering the contractors and office bearers of tenant association to block the uncontrolled release of saline water, repair the breached bunds and take strict action against the erring sluice gate contractors. 

“Some of the tenant association office bearers expressed helplessness as their repeated pleas to hand over charge to them after being duly elected by farmers is ignored and their directives are sidelined by sluice gate contractors,” Wagh added

The meet resolved that they will submit a memorandum to the chief minister with the demands and request him to hold a meeting with the villagers to present their problems and find a solution to the demand.