Team Herald
PONDA: Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar on Sunday said the farmers cultivating paddy crop alongside major Goan rivers including Mandovi, Zuari and others are facing crop damage due to breaching of bhandaras and assured to raise the issue in the Assembly through calling attention motion.
Addressing media persons in the field near Shantadurga Temple, Kavlem, Dhavalikar said he would suggest that government construct roads in place of bhandaras along vast fields located by the side of major rivers which would help farmers in transporting the machinery and harvested crop.
He assured to take up several other issues in the assembly if permitted.
He said, “The bandharas have breached in the fields at Dongrim, Marcaim, Kundaim, Cumbarjua, Agapur and Adpoi. Mangroves have grown and at many places the farmers association cannot repair these bandharas as the cost is not affordable to them, while at some places these bandharas have been destroyed as the fields have been inundated with saline water for fishing activities.”
He said, “The government needs to find solutions to farmers’ issues. I will raise all issues related to farmers and their land through calling attention motion in the Assembly starting from Monday and I have already moved a proposal for the same. I will also raise the M V Act, Mhadei and Melauli issues.”
“The farmers could not cultivate the land due to various problems such as water crisis. This year they are cultivating vegetables and from next year they will start paddy farming,” he said.
Kavlem sarpanch Rajesh Kavlekar, panchas and large number of farmers were present. Dhavalikar assured the farmers from Marcaim constituency to provide all help including fencing.
He said, “This time automatic machines will be used in the vast paddy field at Kundaim for tilling, planting and harvesting of the crop.”
