Farmers from Sal and surrounding villages in Bicholim taluka have expressed their concerns over the stoppage of Tillari irrigation water for the next two months citing losses to their farms.
The authorities on Monday had announced that water from the Tillari canal would be stopped for the next two months because of repair work being undertaken on the canal. According to the authorities, every year they undertake the work of cutting the weeds grown near the canals and other such repairs.
Farmers from Sal fear that the stoppage of water would severely affect their crops. “During the summer season we are totally dependent upon the Tillari waters and it is surprising that the authorities have suddenly decided to stop the waters that too for about two months,” Shriram Desai a farmer from Sal told Herlad.
“Tillari water is very important for us and if we do not get the water it would be a major problem for about 200 farmers from the village,” Desai said. The government had made alternative arrangements in the village of lift irrigation but this never did materialise.
“There are four pumps at the Sal dam and one pump was given so that it could supply water to the farmers but most of the time this pump is kept idle and is not used,” Babi Raut charged. “If we were provided with lift irrigation our problem would have been solved to some extent,” he added.
The farmers from the area fear that stopping of Tillari water would hit their banana plantations. “This year the farmers have planted banana trees in the village and there are about 8000 such trees in the village and if water is not given to them every week they would surely die,” Gurudas Desai claimed. “It seem to be usual problem and they stop the waters without any intimation.”
Ex sarpanch of Latambarcem, Baburao Rane also claimed that stopping of Tillari waters would affect several people from Mapusa and other areas. “Assonora water treatment plant takes water from Tillari and after this development people who are dependent upon this water, including the residents from Bardez and other areas would be affected,” Rane stated.
