Team Herald
MARGAO: Farmers in Nuvem have sounded the alarm over the worsening pollution of Bhogti Tollem, a vital agricultural water source now rendered unusable due to untreated sewage inflow.
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The contamination has persisted for over seven years, forcing many to abandon Rabi cultivation and eroding trust in government assurances.
The farmers attribute the pollution to untreated sewage discharged from Fatorda into Bhogti Tollem, creating such an overpowering stench that sluice gates cannot be closed to store water without affecting residents.
Without the ability to harvest and store water, agriculture in the area has been paralyzed.
Several visits from high-ranking officials, including two former Chief Ministers and PWD Ministers Sudin Dhavalikar and Nilesh Cabral, yielded promises of a resolution within two years. However, the failure to deliver on these commitments has deepened the frustration of the farming community.
Congress leader Everson Vales, who has been vocal about the issue, criticized the government’s neglect, emphasizing that the farmers are eager to resume cultivation if the problem is addressed.
The farmers’ plight worsened after the Salcete Mamlatdar’s recent inspection of Bhogti Tollem was abruptly cancelled due to the absence of Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) officials. This sparked protests, with Vales blaming Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira for the delay.
However, Sequeira denied any involvement, stating, “I was unaware of the inspection and its cancellation. It seems political motives are behind this blame.”
Sequeira said the government is monitoring sewage treatment plants in Margao and likened the situation to the clean-up of the Ganga, suggesting that rejuvenation of the River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete, is possible.
Despite these assurances, the farmers remain sceptical, particularly as symbolic initiatives, such as collecting River Sal water for Republic Day celebrations in Delhi, contrast sharply with the dire realities of unchecked pollution in local water bodies.
