THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
Nearly a year after being repaired, the breached portion of the Azossim bundh is on the verge of giving way once again as the materials used in the repairs of the breach have started washing away during high tide.
When The Goan visited the site along with local panch Francisco Po and a farmer Joaquim Cardozo, it was noticed that the surface of the bundh for majority of the stretch is washed away which gives an indication that the water is flowing over the bundh at high tide.
It was further noticed that, of the two major breaches which were repaired last year, one is on the verge of giving way while the other repaired breach has also seen damage and could also give way if no repairs are undertaken.
Speaking to The Goan, panch Po informed that currently the St Mathew's Tenants Association, which looks after the maintenance of the bundh, does not have an elected body and the affairs are looked after by a Talathi.
"I have already informed the Talathi about the state of the bundh and have urged that repairs be undertaken immediately to prevent breaches from re-occurring," Po informed while also urging Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik to look into the issue as the farmers cultivating their fields are facing the brunt due to entry of saline water in their fields.
"Farmers like Joaquim Cardozo and others have suffered damages to their crops and if no measures are taken immediately then the farmers would incur heavy losses," he added.
Po also urged Revenue Minister Babush Monserratte to give directions to his officials to get an elected body in place for St Mathew's Tenants Association so that such issues are resolved immediately.
"Currently, the Talathi is entrusted the task of the Association but he is busy with his own job which makes it difficult for him to monitor the situation," Po said.
Meanwhile, farmer Cardozo said that after the repairs of the bundh breaches, he cultivated his fields but the crop is now facing threat due to the saline water entering the ponds.
"The saline water has reached the pond and the salinity is threatening the crop yield," Cardozo informed while adding that some of his crop is already damaged.
Cardozo then requested the authorities concerned to repair the bundh immediately before the saline water starts gushing in the fields.
"There is a need to increase the height of the bundh and also build concrete retaining walls to keep the saline water from entering the fields," Cardozo suggested.
