SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
Santosh Naik
PONDA: Huge open pits dug by the farmers in fallow fields located near Shantadurga Temple, Kavlem are posing risk to people’s lives.
Recently, the locals rescued an eighth cattle fallen in the open pit filled with water.
Animal Rescue Squad member Sanket Narvekar said, “There are around three to four open pits dug by the farmers five to six months mainly to cultivate vegetables in the fields at Kavlem. However, the farmers did not cultivate any vegetable nor paddy crop but the open pits dug by them for irrigation purpose are filled up with water and since past four months, the locals rescued eight cattle fallen in the open pits at Kavlem with help of Ponda Fire Station personnel.”
Narvekar and locals demanded to either cover up the open pits with mud or erect fencing around it so that no untoward incident takes place.
“Since the open pits are located near Shantadurga Temple, it also poses risk to the tourists,” Narvekar added.
It may be recalled, recently at Querim-Priol, Ponda, two children accidentally drowned in a water tank dug for irrigation of kulagars.
Kavlem locals said, “Since tourists visit at Kavlem and open pits are located near the temple premises, it is risky to keep them open considering the safety point of view as they are filled with water. So either need proper fencing around it or they should be covered up with mud as the farmers have not cultivated neither paddy crop nor Vegetables.
