Team Herald
PANJIM: Demanding immediate action be taken regarding the breached sluice gates at Salvador do Mundo, Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte met Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate in Taleigao on Wednesday.
Khaunte said he had earlier appealed to the government to resolve the issue given that farmers are upset and moreover, the tenant associations concerned had gone back on their assurances.
He explained that following the breach of the sluice gates in Char Manas and Sao Paulo in Porvorim, the tenants association had promised to pay compensation to the farmers.
Lamenting that this had not been done, Khaunte feared that there could be a
law and order problem if no action is taken against the association and to fix the sluice gates.
Khaunte added that there is enough provision in the law for the Mamlatdar and Deputy Collector to take steps that can ensure that the situation is rectified.
He added that the issue arose due to fishing activities in that area that led to the flooding of the fields, because of which, the work of over 100 farmers had gone to waste.
The minister informed Khaunte that within eight to ten days, she would follow up on the matter and get a report from the department and take action accordingly.
Appealing to farmers to maintain peace during this period, Khaunte took potshots at Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statements of Swayampurna Goa and said the government should sort out issues with basic infrastructure first.
