Assolna locals launch campaign to save ‘Moddoranchem Torem’

Citizens of Assolna kick started a campaign to save the Moddoranchem Torem from the historic Dr Lohia-Dr Juliao Menezes Chowk. (Inset) Water flowing from the water body due to tampering of the sluice gate.

MARGAO
Villagers and farmers from Assolna launched the “Save Moddoranchem Torem” initiative on Thursday, aiming to prevent groundwater depletion and revive the fallow fields surrounding the lake.

Under the banner of Assolna Xetkarancho Ekvott, a group of concerned citizens and farmers kick-started the awareness campaign on Thursday from the historic Dr Ram Manohar Lohia-Dr Juliao Menezes Chowk at Assolna. The group plans to intensify the movement by calling a public meeting to chart the future course of action.

Their grievance is straightforward — although the Water Resources Department (WRD) builds a bundh every year to store water in the lake, certain individuals allegedly tamper with the sluice gate, leading to the premature release of the stored water.

This tampering, they say, results in the lake running dry, leaving no water for irrigation.

Nazareth Fernandes, convenor of the Assolna Village Development Committee, told the media that while the WRD has consistently supported the village by constructing the bundh annually, the efforts are being undermined. “The bundh is being tampered with, and as a result, the water flows out of the lake. Farmers are left without water to cultivate their fields,” he lamented.

He emphasised the broader implications of this sabotage: “When water is stored in the lake, it helps recharge the groundwater. But now, the wells are running dry, the fields are barren, and even migratory birds have stopped visiting the lake.” 

Herenico Fernandes, another local farmer, echoed these concerns. “We’ve had the support of the WRD every year, but just before water can be stored in the lake, mischief-makers release it,” he said. “This has made it impossible for us to cultivate our fields.”

Villager John Viegas reflected on how things used to be. “The three lakes at Banda, Assolna, and Velim used to support two crop cycles a year for our ancestors. These water bodies helped maintain a cool climate, kept the groundwater table steady, and ensured the village wells never ran dry. People even practiced freshwater fish farming. Now, the migratory birds have stopped coming — there’s simply no water left.”