PANJIM: Navelim-Goltim Tenants Association on Friday demanded the authority to hand over the rights of khajan land to the tenants association by conducting the elections through proper channel.
In addition, they also demanded for the thorough inspection of area by either Deputy Collector or Mamlatdar as they claimed the nature of Awal Karkun of Tiswadi to be evasive.
According to Prasad Harmalkar, former sarpanch of Navelim-Goltim Village Panchayat, sluice gates are opened and closed by the operator as per their own need without taking the problems faced by farmers into consideration. This water is released and blocked as per the operators own need.
“The water enters into the khajan land which leads to flooding of field. This gives rise to the water logging in cropping area which in turn causes yield loss,” added Harmalkar.
At a press briefing, here, members of the Navelim-Goltim Tenants Association accused the authorities of bribery.
“As per the tenancy policy, the sluice gates were meant to control the flow of water in and out for the purpose of irrigation and fishing was never the priority,” said Harmalkar.
Speaking further he said, “Over 447 farmers are undertaking the farming in this ancestral area for the last several years. No authority neither the government nor MLA or panchayat is paying attention to our queries. The authorities when complained gives excuse saying the fields remains inundated due to issue with the bund but in reality the bund is strong and is in very good condition,” stated Harmalkar.
Farmers Rohidas Priolkar and Babal Kunkalkar along with other farmers were present.
