Team Herald
PONDA: Farmers in Kerya-Khandepar have voiced their concerns over the ongoing impact of the National Highway (NH) expansion, which they say has brought farming activities to a halt. They claim that the fertile paddy fields, once thriving with crops, have been turned into dumping grounds for debris, including mud, small stones, and other waste, during the highway’s widening process.
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According to the farmers, the four-lane expansion at Kerya has severely damaged agricultural land, particularly at Shetate, and they are now calling on the authorities to clear the debris from their fields. “The fertile land is now filled with rough stones, gravel, and even medical waste, which is preventing us from resuming paddy cultivation,” said one
local farmer.
Rocky Dias, a farmer from the area, explained that despite previous complaints to the National Highway authorities, the promised clean-up of the site has yet to happen. “A few months ago, the NH authorities inspected the site and promised to clear the waste, but the mud and debris remain,” he said.
Farmers, including Dias and Ranganath Gaude, noted that paddy cultivation has been at a standstill for the past few years due to the ongoing expansion works. While a few farmers have begun cultivating vegetables such as Vaigan, the majority are unable to till their land because of the large amounts of mud, rough stones, and gravel that have accumulated in the fields.
The farmers also pointed out that the highway’s construction has had a negative impact on local wildlife, with the construction of large retaining
walls hindering the movement of animals, including bison, across the highway.
“The highway authorities have not considered
the needs of local
farmers or the wildlife in this area,” said another
local resident.
