PANJIM: Goa’s first comprehensive documentary on Khazan System of Goa – Kavtem was released and screened at the Institute Menezes Braganza hall in the city on Saturday.
The screening was followed by discussion on the past, present and future of khazan system in Goa by an eminent panel comprising Prof Ramarao Wagh, environmentalist Claude Alvares, Goa State Biodiversity Board member secretary Pradip Sarmokadam, senior journalist Paul Fernandes, Khazan Society of Goa president Elsa Fernandes.
Speaking on the occasion, Alvares disclosed that the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department on Friday released 30 files wherein there was signature of only TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane.
Neither the TCP Department nor the Secretary (TCP) had given their opinion on any of the conversions to the plots, he said.
Senior Journalist Paul Fernandes said the impact of degradation of Khazans had been very severe on farmers in the coastal belt.
“At one stage, before the bundhs started collapsing, many farmers were growing their fields. When the bundhs were breached, they still continued bravely, but the flooding and related problems started getting worse. This was when the auction of sluice gates started fetching more money and revenue to the tenants association. Progressively over the years, there was a quantum jump in auction amounts and sluice gate operators resorted to netting more fish while the width of the breaches increased. Fish became more important than food. One can understand why major breaches remain unrepaired. But the authorities have not realized that by allowing the bundhs to be unrepaired, the food security is being destroyed,”’ he said.
Fernandes said farming will be difficult to revive in some parts as the areas of permanent water-logging have increased and on the other hand, due to fields being fallow, mangroves have grown extensively.
“To clear these mangrove forests is a mammoth task. Due to the permanent nature of the flooding, the fertile soil has been destroyed by salinity. Our food security is at stake,” he added.
