TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The protesters who were squatting within the Tillari canal have called off their agitation paving way for the release of water, which took place at 8pm on Tuesday bringing cheer to Goan farmers.
Announcing this the Sawantwadi NCP MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who had championed the cause of the agitating villagers said that they have been promised a one time settlement by the Maharashtra government, the details of which will be decided at the Inter-State Tillari Irrigation Project Control Board meeting which has now been advanced to January 10 from the earlier January 18.
“A decision to call off the dharna was taken after Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar visited the protesting farmers and promised them to resolve the issue after speaking to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister who is the finance minister, the Maharashtra Minister for water resources,” Kesarkar told media persons adding that this is the first time a onetime settlement scheme has been promised and it was likely to set a precedent for other irrigation projects as well.
Maharashtra, a couple of weeks ago has cut off the supply of water from the Tillari dam after displaced residents of Bodade, a village which was submerged in the reservoir of the dam started protesting in the dam’s canal demanding jobs and compensation.
Their grouse was that the Goa government failed to keep its side of the agreement and had not given the villagers jobs as promised.
The river from the canal provides water for three sub districts in the north Goa district namely Bicholim, Pernem and Bardez. The latter two are key for Goa’s tourism industry.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed between the Goa and Maharashtra governments, was to build a dam with giving the latter 73 per cent share of the water in the dammed reservoir.
The Rs 1,612 crore worth Tillari dam project, located in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra was commissioned in May 2009 and is aimed at fulfilling the potable water needs of the south Maharashtra and north Goa region.
The Control board has met just twice in the last 23 years seriously jeopardising any progress on the project.
The water is expected to reach Goa by Wednesday morning.
