About 80 farmers from the Hira Bailim Khazan in Sancoale were eager to cultivate their fields this Kharif season, after their fields were submerged for over two decades. Their dreams have now been washed away after water from a canal was released into their fields.
The fields, which are situated along the banks of the Zuari River and spread across 10 hectares, were expected to be taken up for cultivation after the sluice gate and bunds had been repaired by the Water Resources Department at a cost of Rs 6 lakh. Hira Bailim Khazan Chairman Agustin Moniz, who had initiated the move to get the fields back into cultivation, has expressed disappointment following release of water from a canal.
“Apart from WRD funds, the farmer’s committee had also spent around Rs 2 lakh to clear the water channels which were blocked and submerged.
If at all the adjoining fields were flooding then the bundh (ado) built near the health centre should have been demolished, as this would have released the water into the river,” said Moniz.
“All these years, the canals were plugged. However this year, the canals were suddenly opened and water inundated the paddy fields which made ploughing difficult,” Moniz added.
Suspecting mala fide intentions behind the move to inundate the paddy fields, Moniz suspects that some unscrupulous elements do not want the fields cultivated and may want them to be used for fish farming. Moniz further informed that he had submitted a written complaint in the matter to the Mormugao Mamlatdar in April.
“Although the Talathi submitted my report, no action has come forth and no effective hearing has been conducted despite four hearings convened by the mamlatdar. I have now approached the Mormugao Deputy Collector to address our grievances,” said Moniz.
A farmer said that many farmers have opted for easy money like auctioning of their land for fish farming.
Meanwhile reports are moving up the chain with each officer pushing the file to the next level. When contacted,
Sancoale Talathi Amresh Naik confirmed that he had sent his report to the Mamlatdar, while Mormugao Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai told Herald that he had already submitted his report to the Mormugao deputy collector for necessary action.
According to sources, a lasting solution to the problem will not be found unless the agriculture department is intimated as it is mandatory that a luice gate is installed to replace the annual building of the bundh (ado) near the health centre. Besides the Hira Bailim Khazan, there are other fields, including Sancoale Comunidade, which have been lying fallow for several years.
In fact, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had told farmers at Cortalim that the government would come out with a law to punish miscreants involved in the release of water to inundate paddy fields, by making it an offence which would attract imprisonment. While farmers continue to be at the receiving end, miscreants have been getting away with impunity at Sancoale.
