Demand govt intervention to protect water body, secure sluice gate
Assolna Parish Priest Fr Romeo Godinho addressing the meeting of villagers in support of the campaign to save the Moddoranchem Torem.
MARGAO
Assolna villagers on Sunday intensified its movement to save the Moddorachem Torem on Sunday as they demanded government’s intervention to protect the water body for posterity and keep miscreants at bay.
Speakers at the meeting held at the historic Dr Ram Manohar Lohia-Dr Juliao Menezes Chowk at Assolna vowed to continue the movement in support of the movement to protect the village bio-diversity including water bodies.
The movement received a shot in the arm with the Parish Priest of Assolna Church, Fr Romeo Godinho categorically extending support of the Church to save the water body from extinction.
The meeting resolved to demand from the government immediate action, insisting that the Water Resource Department close the sluice gate at Moddorachem Torem in the first week of October every year without fail.
They further resolved to demand that the government provide proper security to stop people from illegally breaking the gate, further demanding strict action against those deliberately destroying the water system.
It was further resolved to authorise the Village Panchayat of Assolna and the Farmers’ Group to send the resolutions adopted at the meeting, along with past letters, to the South Goa District Collector, SDO, and Water Resource Department.
The speakers pointed out that for years the timely closing of the sluice gate at Moddorachem Torem has given the farmers water for their Rabi crop. “In the last 10-15 years, miscreants keep breaking the gate, and our crops are falling due to a lack of water. Despite our complaints, the problem continues,” they pointed out.
In his address, Parish Priest Fr Romeo Godinho said God has given responsibility to men to protect the environment and not work for its destruction. “The water body has been the lifeline of the farmers of Assolna to cultivate crops. Storage of water in the water body not only helps cultivation, but helps to maintain cool temperature,” he said.
He added; “The Church has been working to protect the environment. The Church has been in the forefront in taking a lead on social issues and to protect the villages and its environment. I compliment the Village Development Committee for the initiative to protect and preserve the water body for posterity.”
Speakers who addressed the meeting include Jack Mascarenhas, Judith Almeida, Savio Ferreira, John Viegas, Fredrick Noronha and others.
All eyes on water body inspection
MARGAO: All eyes are now focussed on the inspection of the Moddorachem Torem to be conducted by the Margao Deputy Collector as per the directions of the High Court.
The HC had directed the Zonal Agricultural Officer, as well as the Executive Engineer, WRD to remain present for the inspection of the water body. The inspection team has been given a brief to find out the status of the petitioner’s field as well as the impact of the opening of the gates of the bhandara on the adjoining fields.
The team has been given a brief to find out how much area would be impacted and the future of the Rabi crop as the court has been informed that the crop is cultivated only on the basis of the stored water. The Dy Collector has been told to carry out an inspection of the factual scenario at loco and shall furnish a report to the HC on or before October 2. The petition will come up for hearing on October 6.
