MARGAO: The paddy cultivators of Maina held a protest against a proposed housing project near the bank of Sonbem Tollem (lake), in Maina-Curtorim village while also demanding that the gram sabha take up this issue.
The Maina-Curtorim farmers, who held a candle-light procession to the ‘Handi Khuris’, also wrote to the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of Maina-Curtorim Village Panchayat, which has decided to take an expert opinion from the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB). The BMC also requested the secretary of the village panchayat to keep the licence in abeyance if it wasn’t issued.
While explaining how the lake serves as a water reservoir, which is used by the farmers for cultivation and agricultural purposes, the ‘Maina Paddy Cultivators’ expressed fear of the lake getting contaminated by sewage and garbage pollution if the project does materialise.
While adding that the lake maintains the water table of the whole village, they spoke how the dairy farmers are also dependent on the lake for their cattle and that the lake has various marine species and sweet water fish too.
“Lot of families are dependent on agriculture as the production of paddy is 500 tonnes in a year,” they added.
