VALPOI
There is still one month left in the rainy season. Velus river bed in Sattari taluka has started drying up. This has affected the agriculture and horticulture and there is a possibility of drying up of vegetation in many areas due to lack of water.
Delay in arrival of monsoon is likely to have adverse effect on agriculture and horticulture.This has caused a lot of concern among the horticulturists and producers.
According to information received, from Masorde to Thane, horticulture dependent on the water of this river has started drying up.
There are many dams on this river under the Pani Adwa Pani Jirwa scheme. It is used through lift irrigation yojana. In the month of November, this water is supplied for agriculture and horticulture through LI scheme. Due to this, agriculture and horticultural activities have picked up. Bandhara scheme is all set for agricultural revolution in Sattari taluka.
Due to the drying up of the river bed, the lift irrigation is not getting the required amount of water and it is not possible to use water for agricultural purposes. Due to this, all these schemes implemented by the Irrigation Department have been closed.
Meanwhile, concern has been expressed among horticulturists in this regard. There is a fear that agriculture and horticulture will be affected due to lack of water if there is a delay of 15 days in the onset of rainy season.
Meanwhile, when the officials of the Irrigation Department were contacted in this regard, they said that the water level of the river has decreased very much. In some places the river is completely dry. Due to this the pumps in lift irrigation scheme cannot access water. He said that therefore water supply for agriculture and horticulture has to be stopped in many areas.
If the Irrigation Department constructs a large number of dams along the river in the future, a large amount of water can be stored.
Karnataka government has decided to divert the water of Mhadei river. Farmers say that it is equally necessary for the irrigation department to pay serious attention to water planning in Sattari taluka.
