Team Herald
MAPUSA: Farmers from Siolim regret their fate not to be able to till their fields for years because of the accumulated water in the field that remains throughout the year. The fields which cover approximately a thousand acres are cultivated by number of farmers from Siolim. The accumulated water let no machinery including tractor enter into the fields.
The fated farmers have been approaching the concern authorities as well as local MLA and minister for help however their pleas remained unheard.
Farmers have also pointed that government have Tilary water pipeline in Siolim but still they are unable to cultivate the fields.
“I use to cultivate 12 fields owned by 12 different people at a time but now we cannot cultivate even one because the fields remain filled with water throughout the year making it difficult for us to cultivate them. It will be major relief once the problem is solved,” said a farmer.
Another farmer echoed the dismay. Sometimes the water flows but it again gets accumulated during the high tide. Only few fields where the water level is normal are being cultivated by some farmers.”
Murari, president of Farmers Association, Siolim said, “Before the farmers use to build around seven to eight bunds, which use to control the water flow from Cunchelim to Marna but now since many farmers from Cunchelim have stopped farming and are more into their service and jobs, the building bunds have stopped and water gets accumulated in the area which is at low level.”
Farmers claimed that they have approached the Agriculture Department and demand that the Irrigation Department should survey the fields and see what the problem is. If bund is constructed at Cunchelim then it will help some farmers to cultivate their fields, since the water flows down from Cunchelim side.
