PONDA: The haphazard digging of roads by the sewerage project contractor have shattered the dreams of farmers in Dhavlim.
This is because the deep excavation to construct manholes for the sewerage tanks has destroyed three perennial springs that used to irrigate their fields.
Farmers say that for the last eight days, they could not irrigate their fields as the three springs which were important source of water have suddenly dried up.
The springs originate from the internal nullah located behind the canteen of Mamlatdar building at Tisk Ponda and were a natural discharge point of water into the fields here.
Distressed farmers now claimed that they were now forced to pump dirty and polluted water from a nullah to irrigate their crops which is both unhygienic and a health hazard too.
“These fresh water springs were once tapped by our ancestors for agricultural use are now parched dry and the vast stretch of the standing crop is withering away,” said distressed ryots.
“We have toiled labourioulsy for the last two months hoping for a bumper harvest. Now we are spending sleepless nights as our dreams are shattered and desperately counting on the authorities to find an immediate solution to our problem, said another farmer.
The farmers said they used to erect bandharas to store the spring water and irrigate their fields however were helpless now as there was not a drop of water flowing from the parched springs.
Farmers from Azoth, Mestha Shet and Deva Adi at Daag Ponda have now called on the government to provide and urgent solution to their problem.
