the goan I network
PANAJI
In a major but abrupt decision, the State administration on Monday halted auctions of bundhs/sluice gates across khazan lands in Goa and kept on hold giving effect to those already conducted, pending soil conservation investigations on their stability by Agriculture department’s soil conservation division.
In an order issued on Monday, North Goa Collector Levinson Martins directed all mamlatdars not to proceed with further auctions of bundhs/sluice gates fixed by them.
In cases where the auctions have already been conducted, these shall be kept on hold and no effect shall be given to the proceedings until the report from the soil conservation division of the Agriculture Department as sought is received, the order issued by Martins said.
The order shall take effect immediately and all mamlatdars shall file action taken reports within two days, Martins further said in the order.
Auctions of bundhs/sluice gates are crucial for the lucrative activity of brackish water pisciculture and a source of much sought after species of fish from khazan water bodies colloquially known as ‘manshechem nustem’.
The activity however raises conflicts with agriculturists who face damage to the soil due to intrusion of saline waters which are deliberately let in by the pisiculturists.
The issue constantly figures in debates in the Goa legislative assembly and on one such occasion in December last year, Revenue Minister Rohan Khaunte had issued orders to all mamlatdars that auctions would be subject to the soil conservation and stability reports of the bundhs/sluice gates.
Strangely, the order issued on Monday indicates that the requisition for soil tests to the Agriculture Department’s soil conservation division is yet to be done. The process could now take weeks and jeopardize the potential of brackish water pisciculture in the current season before the next monsoon sets in.
A similar order has also been issued for the South Goa jurisdiction as well, official sources said.
Soil conservation investigations to be conducted by Agriculture department’s soil conservation division
Order takes effect immediately
All mamlatdars to file action taken reports within two days
Auctions of bundhs/sluice gates crucial for lucrative activity of brackish water pisciculture
A source of much sought after species of fish from khazan water bodies colloquially known as ‘manshechem nustem’
Activity raises conflicts with agriculturists who face damage to soil due to intrusion of saline waters which are deliberately let in by pisiculturists
