MAPUSA
“I am aware work on the project is very slow. We want the project as we want to irrigate our land to increase the agriculture output in the State,” Palyekar said.
Expressing unhappiness over slow progress of the project, he said most of the activity was held up due to paucity of funds.
The water resources minister informed that his department was awaiting Rs 400 crore funds from the Centre which was due to it to re-start the irrigation project.
“We will meet Union Minister for Water Resources, Uma Bharti on May 16 in Delhi and impress on her the need to expedite the irrigation project in Goa. Hopefully we will be able to get crucial financial aid from the union government,” he said. He informed that almost 7-km canal work was pending in Mayem, as land acquisition process was incomplete on that stretch.
“We have spoken to the local MLA, Pravin Zantye and soon land acquisition process would be expedited in the area,” he said.
The Tillari irrigation project is being financed in a 75-25 ratio by Goa and Maharashtra.
According to sources, substantial progress has been made on the canal work but since the work has been dragging for years at many places, the canals have broken or in some places there are leakages due to poor quality of work.
Palyekar further informed that he would also meet the Union Minister of Agriculture, Radha Mohan Singh during his Delhi visit and raise issues concerning the fisheries department in the State.
“There are lots of central funded schemes in the fisheries sector which can be used in the State. We will work to get these schemes for the benefit of the State,” he said.
