the goan I network
VALPOI
The dreams of 32 farmers have turned into nightmare as about 25 acres of their cultivated land has virtually dried up in Advoi village of Bhironda-Sattari on account of acute water shortage for irrigation purposes.
Angry cultivators have now blamed authorities for failing to respond to repeated complaints about the water
shortage.
Speaking to The Goan, the aggrieved cultivators recalled that the lift irrigation scheme had been set up irrigate barren land from Advoi and Vante villages in Sattari taluka.
About 32 cultivators from both these village have begun coconut, sugarcane, arecanut, banana and vegetable cultivation on about 25 acres of land. But since the last two months, the cultivators have been facing severe hardships over water shortage.
“Many of us have repeatedly visited the Valpoi WRD office with our problems, but authorities have failed to address our grievances,” complained Umesh Rane, one of the affected cultivators.
I had planned to grow ladyfingers on my land. The seedlings were ready but due to water shortage, all my efforts were in vain. This is sheer negligence by authorities as they did not act despite a complaint from me,” said Rane.
Rohidas Naik, a sugarcane cultivator, also blamed authorities for his losses on account of water shortage.
“Since the last 40 days, I was waiting for water to reach my cultivation but the water never came and the WRD has put me in trouble,” he said.
The other farmers informed that the lift irrigation system had been equipped with two pumps, of which one pump requires urgent repairs and the other pump has
not been functioning for several months.
An operator at the pump station said the situation had already been intimate to higher authorities for necessary action. Asked to comment about the water shortage, WRD Assistant Engineer Mr Babu said the problem persisted only because of confusion.
“All cultivators have been given fixed hours of water, but some of them are using this water beyond their demand and so, the other cultivators are suffering and this problem arises.”
“But now, the department is strict regarding water supply as per plans and no one will be allowed to take additional hours of water.”
