PORVORIM: The State is contemplating amending the Goa Irrigation Act considering that it endures NOC problems while taking up projects of clearing nullahs. Speaking during the Question Hour on Monday, WRD Minister Felipe Neri Rodrigues explained to the Legislative Assembly issues the govt faced over desilting of nullahs.
“I am very serious about protecting the oldest system of irrigation across Goa. We need to amend the Irrigation Act in order to save all the water bodies,” he said in a reply to BJP MLA MLA Francisco Silveira’s question that clogged drains have been damaging the farms and roads in St Andre.
Pointing at several pending works including minor works withheld at St Andre, Silveira sought that govt does not delay in taking up the works any further. “There is flooding everywhere in the village due to clogged and uncleaned nullahs. We are ready to support the govt but give us an assurance to take up the existing desilting of nullahs urgently,” he demanded. Neri responded that minor works could be submitted to the govt as a “consolidated project” while he also pointed out to hassles at the time of obtaining the NOC to take up the work. “We can start the work without NOCs but let there be a resolution in the village so that we are not dragged to the court,” he said further.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao also pointed out to problems in their constituencies. Alemao remarked that the system of obtaining NOCs surfaced about two-to-three years ago, which never existing before. Kamat, pointed to a few ‘no man’s nullah’ in Margao and some neglected nullahs existing since the Portuguese time. “Some nullahs are like no-man’s land. So from where should the NOC be obtained? There are also some Portuguese-era nullahs,” he alleged, seeking to do away with the procedure of obtaining NOCs.
The minister explained about how some matters are before the judiciary while in other instances, either the owner of the place is out of Goa or is unknown. “It is high time that we take up the work without NOCs but we (govt) need cooperation from all the members of the House,” he added.
