Cortalim farmers are upset and look at a bleak future as the State government has gone back on its assurance to compensate them for the damage caused to the crops, due to the ongoing work of the National Highway 17 road.
The farmers’ community from Arvale, Cortalim point out that during last monsoons they had to face a total loss of paddy crops due to the ongoing road expansion work of NH-17 at Arvale-Cortalim.
They stressed that after MLA Alina Saldanha took up their issue on August 30, 2017 the State PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar met them and assured he would provide appropriate compensation (calculated for period of one year) for the loss of paddy crops to all the farmers. However, till date the government has not released any compensation promised to them.
“Isn’t it an irony that even after one year they are yet to release the compensation that was promised to us. Likewise, other farmers from the village, including I had to face losses due to the ongoing road expansion works of NH-17. They jotted down our names and gave us tall assurances but then did nothing, as if the loss faced by us was due to our mistakes,” Bento D’Costa, a farmer from Arvale said.
Several other farmers from Arvale-Cortalim are still waiting to receive their compensation which was promised to them last year.
“Traditional farmers from our village are gradually giving up agriculture as profession because there is no support from the government and our case is perfect example to prove it, otherwise why are they delaying our compensation,” said another farmer from Arvale, under condition of anonymity.
While the debt-ridden farmers await compensation, they faced another jolt when they recently harvested the crop in their field and discovered to their dismay that the rice yield was 40 per cent less than other previous years.
“We have been suffering from all sides as this year’s crop yield is 40 per cent lower than previous year. All this is happening because the construction debris and piling slurry has already affected our fields, besides the dust generated from the highway construction works. If the situation continues we will be forced to give up this occupation,” a woman farmer told Herald
Not only farmers but also the Cortalim panchayat authorities are upset due to the delay in releasing the compensation to the affected farmers. “We are really upset as the government in not acting at all. In fact in yesterday’s (Monday) Panchayat body meeting I had raised the issue and it was unanimously resolved to write to MLA Alina Saldanha to remind her about the pending compensation that was promised by PWD minister to the affected farmers,” Raymond D’Sa, Deputy Sarpanch of Cortalim Village panchayat told Herald, adding they also sought the intervention of the MLA on other issues as we fear that this monsoon more people might get affected due to construction of NH17 road.
