SANGUEM: The agriculturists having their paddy fields and sugarcane plantation all along the Selaulim canal heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday after the Water Resources Department released the water in the morning. 

The agriculturists, particularly paddy growers, were eagerly waiting for the release of water supply since last week of November.

Though as per records, water is normally released by the second week of November, there has been an inordinate delay in releasing water this year allegedly on account of delay caused by the contractors who were given the work of cleaning of the main canal and its distributaries.

Chairman of Karyagall Pani Vantop Saunstha Costao Mascarenhas informed that though the water stands released today, the water flow is kept to the minimum and it would take a couple of days for the water to reach the fields. 

Mascarenhas urged the authorities to increase the flow of water so as to make the water reach faster to the farmers.

Another agriculturist Josinho D’Costa informed that the delay caused by the department in releasing the water supply would severely affect the paddy growers.

By this time of the year, paddy growers would be ready to undertake transplantation activity. “However, with the delay caused in supply of water, there has been a delay of about fifteen days in undertaking paddy farming,” D’Costa informed.

D’Costa urged the Water Resources Department to undertake the repair and other maintenance work of the canals much in advance so that farming is not hindered in the coming years.

The villagers accepted the MLA’s suggestion to have a meeting with the neighbouring MLAs Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco and Filipe Neri Rodrigues and also some villagers from neighbouring Guirdolim to resolve the issue of State Highway passing through Chandor Cavorim.