SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
PERNEM: An under construction pump house right in the middle of the fertile fields of Khutwal will cost Rs 26 crore. But the damage it is doing and will do to the farmers is priceless.
The fears of locals especially the farmers from Khutwal village in Pernem taluka came true, as the rising water levels in the Bailpar River caused massive destruction to their cultivated land and plantations.
The farmers claimed that around 200 pineapple plants, paddy, green fodder and other cultivated crops were damaged and attributed the prevailing situation to the ongoing pump house project work.
The villagers including the farmers from Khutwal, Chandel and nearby areas had objected the Rs 26 crore pump house project which is currently under construction.
The farmers had raised their concerns with regards to the flooding the project would cause and had cautioned the Water Resources Department (WRD) of the project’s negative effect.
A part of the pump house was submerged.
Ruzel D'Souza, a farmer said, “The flow of the water from Tillari canal led to the increase in the water levels. Our pineapple plantation has been damaged. Green fodder is submerged which has caused major losses to farmers from Chandel and Khutwal including me.”
Adv Devendra Gaonkar said, “This is one of the reasons the villagers have objected to this project. With regards to the prevailing situation, the government should investigate the incident and get to the core of the issue. The existing bandhara is chocked with logs which have affected the free flow of water. Water has now entered the agricultural land.”
Uday Mahale, another farmer said, “We had warned the concerned department about the situation and had also pointed out that this is not the right place for a pump house project. The project is a total waste of public money and the same has inconvenienced the farmers and the locals.”
