Alvaro colaco
In what could come as a major relief for farmers belonging to Cortalim comunidade, Cortalim MLA and Forest and Environment Minister Alina Saldanha assured to bring an immediate solution to the decade-old problem plaguing the farmers.
Saldanha’s site inspection comes close on the heels of Herald highlighting the dangers faced by the Cortalim farmers due to the deteriorating sluices gate and the culvert over it which is in a deplorable condition at Manxer, Cortalim.
Saldanha, who was accompanied by the officials of the Agriculture Department and PWD, was briefed on the issues plaguing the 250-odd farmers whose livelihood was at stake due to the deteriorating condition of the sluice gates.
The treasurer of the Cortalim Comunidade Tenants’ Association Paulo Souza explained the problems to Saldanha, saying, “The sluice gates are in bad condition. Recently, we spent Rs 15,000 towards its repairs. The overall expenses towards its repairs could be anywhere between Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh and the Association cannot bear the expenses and neither the farmers can raise such an amount.”
Saldanha, after listening to all the stakeholders and the officials, said that as a stop-gap measure the sluice gate would be repaired which would be on 50:50 sharing basis between the Association and the government.
“Later, before the beginning of the monsoon, work on the new sluice gates and the retaining wall will be tendered and executed in order to bring about a permanent solution,” Saldanha said.
Saldanha also said that the work on the culvert had been tendered and it would commence after the feast of Blessed Joseph Vaz on January 16 since the culvert serves as an important road line to the Sanctuary of Blessed Joseph Vaz.
Likewise, the work of another culvert on NH 17 A at Five-Star Sancoale which was long pending and which had been the cause of many accidents including some of which were fatal would be taken up by the end of the month.
Engineers from the Agriculture Department, PWD and large numbers of farmers and the representatives were also present during the inspection.
