MARGAO: Farmers and officials of Agriculture department carried out an inspection of the Saipem lake on Monday, which is contaminated due to sewerage discharge from nullahs across Margao. The farmers were forced to abandon their farming activities for years due to the contamination and other issues.
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar and Agriculture Director Nevil Alphonso took stock of the fields where they met the farmers as well as the Navelim Village Development Committee (VDC) and Fr George Quadros whose team has been assisting the farmers.
The farmers informed the Minister about how the discharge of sewage into the lake from nullahs across Margao which was the reason for the fields to have been abandoned and how they are still facing issues due to this.
They further put forth their demands for a subsidy for fencing around the fields and also getting their other files processed quickly with the agriculture department. The farmers appealed for assistance in providing better access to the farmers to enter the field, particularly for the machinery. The presence of debris and garbage nearby has been causing much inconvenience, they informed.
Responding to the demands, Naik gave an assurance to the farmers that the Agriculture Department will offer them full support in the community farming initiative at Saipem lake. He added that the Agriculture Policy also covers how local farmers need to be supported.
The Agriculture Director updated the Minister about the recent effort to cultivate 1 lakh square meters of land in the fields that were abandoned for years in the past. Both the Minister and the Director praised the farmers for this work.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Naik said such initiatives help provide employment to the locals and that even the educated youth should participate in such work.
