TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
MAYEM: After a delay of over three weeks, Maharashtra finally released water from the Tillari irrigation project for residents of Sal and surrounding areas in Bicholim Taluka.
The water was released at about 7.15 am on Wednesday and it was later forwarded to the Assonora Treatment Plant and other areas, including Latambarcem, Sal, Sanquelim and parts of Pernem, stated Goa Tillari Irrigation Development Corporation (GTIDC) Assistant Engineer Jacob Mathew.
Speaking to local reporters at the site, Sal Sarpanch Ghanashyam Raut expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for resolving the issue by seeking the intervention of Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.
It may be recalled that water from the Tillari canal was stopped to Goa due to repairs and when the water was to be released after the repairs, the Tillari rehabilitees resorted to an indefinite agitation at the canal to press for their demands. This prevented the Maharashtra government from releasing water to Goa, much to the anger of farmers from Sal and surrounding villages, who were dependent on the Tillari water for their crops.
Anticipating the release of Tillari water following a breakthrough in talks between Maharashtra and Goa at the behest of Pawar, GTIDC officials were stationed at Kharpal-Bicholim since 5 am to monitor the release of the water.
While many farmers from Sal, Wadawal, Latambarcem, Kharpal, Kumyamal, Kholpewadi and surrounding areas heaved a sigh of relief and worked overtime to get the water to their crops, other farmers complained that their plantations had already withered away due to lack of water.
