The Tillari Irrigation Canal was intended to benefit people in Goa, but snags in the canal have led to serious problems for residents in Cansa-Tivim.
What is also worrying the residents of Cansa is that a water body has been choked due to the installation of metal sluice gates.
Residents of Cansa in Tivim have complained that untreated water from the Tillari Irrigation Canal has seeped due to various leakages and has inundated fields, springs and wells in the area.
“This discharge of water from the canal has been going on for the past several months. Moreover, the continuous flow of mining rejects and loose soil from the Konkan Railway and the Tillari Irrigation projects located atop the hill have destroyed fields over the years. This has, in turn, choked the nullahs, which would otherwise have drained the water into the river,” said a resident, Caridade de Melo.
“We now plan to approach our local MLA and bring it to his notice the problems faced by the villagers. We do hope he will help us in solving our problems,” he added.
According to another villager, Anthony D’Mello, the Water Resources Department (WRD) also shares some blame for the precarious situation at Cansa.
“In its infinite stupidity, the Water Resources Department erected metal sluice gates on a raised platform, thereby resulting in total destruction of the once pristine water body,” said D’Mello.
“The water body has now been converted into a stagnant marshland where lotus and other plants have taken root and are slowly choking the beautiful ‘Guneachi Poim’. The result is that the water body is now choked with river-weed by the stagnant water.”
“The WRD would be well advised to replace the metal gates with fibre ones to ensure movement of water,” he added.
“We now fear that the malfunctioning sluice gate and the choked water body could flood the low-lying areas of Cansa during the rains. As the canal water has already filled up the fields, it will only need one heavy shower to wreak havoc in Cansa.”
Since water from the Tillari Canal is seeping below the tracks of the Konkan Railway, there is justifiable fear that a rail disaster could take place if quick measures are not immediately taken,” D’Mello added.
When contacted, Tivim Sarpanch Arjun Aroskar informed that the problem had been discussed in the fortnightly panchayat meeting.
“The panchayat has written to departments concerned for assistance and necessary action. The Tivim panchayat lacks the requisite funds for any further development in the village,” admitted Aroskar.
“I have approached the Panchayats Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and put forth the difficulties of Tivim panchayat. I informed him that Tivim panchayat receives only Rs 30 lakh per annum and I requested the minister to increase the slab given to Tivim panchyat, so that the panchyat is entitled to additional grants. The minister has assured to look into the matter,” he added.
Assuring to attend to the grievances of residents, Tivim MLA Kiran Kandolkar said he had already initiated measures to resolve the issue.
“I have already sent the WRD department engineers and they have inspected all the affected areas. But in order to commence the required work, the locals need to provide the engineers with NOCs from the Comunidade, tenants and landowners. Once we get these NOCs, we will commence the work,” said Kandolkar.
