PANJIM: Khazan Action Committee (KAC) on Friday demanded that the auction of sluice gates of Neura, Mandur, Azossim and Carambolim areas, scheduled in December end be postponed, as virtually all the khazan fields are flooded with saline water. KAC alleged the flooding to be a deliberate act to raise more money from the auction.
“A memorandum to this effect has been submitted to the Revenue Minister, Collector and Mamlatdar of Tiswadi. We discussed the issue with the Collector, North Goa who directed the Mamlatdar of Tiswadi to inspect the state of bandhs and flooding of fields of these areas,” KAC Convenor Ramarao Wagh said.
He added, “It is heartening to note that due to strict action taken by Revenue Department, Damda fields are slowly drying up but other khazan fields are flooded with saline waters and the main cause is releasing water through sluice gate by sluice gate operators in connivance with tenant association office bearers.”
Azossim Mandur Sarpanch Ajit Bacal, and other villagers and farmers, have also demanded that the auction be postponed in view of the situation in the khazan fields of Damda, Ofla-Dhongzo, Kauje, Neura and St Mathews Azossim.
“The demand is to defer the conduct of auction of sluice gate operation for fishing as the field are not dried up and in some cases there is a damage to the bandhs which need urgent repair,” KAC members said.
