Interacts with Batim salt pan owners, assures to resolve woes
A salt pan owner highlights his issue as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with MLA Viresh Borkar visits Batim to hear the grievances of salt pan owners, farmers, on Monday.
Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA/PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the State government is in the process of drafting a comprehensive policy to revive the state’s traditional salt pans.
He also assured to resolve issues faced by salt pan owners and farmers of Batim in a bid to boost salt farming in the area.
Sawant gave the assurance when he along with St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar visited Batim and inspected salt pans, while also listening to the grievances of the salt pan owners and farmers.
Speaking to reporters, Sawant informed that some of the demands of the salt farmers included strengthening of the bundhs, sluice gates and keeping the salt pans clean.
"This will be done by the WRD after October. Also, the issue of marketing the salt will be taken care of by the Goa State Biodiversity Board. Market linkages are being developed, and locally produced salt is currently undergoing testing for cosmetic and edible applications," Sawant said.
“The policy will be finalised once the test reports are received,” he stated.
He added that the government is committed to preserve this unique tradition of salt pan farming.
MLA Borkar said that the salt pan owners and farmers need support from the government to survive.
"Right now, that is not happening due to which I had raised the issue in the Assembly and the CM had assured to visit my constituency to understand the issues faced by the farmers," Borkar stated while adding that a policy has to be worked for the benefits of the farmers.
When Borkar had raised the issue in the assembly regarding revival of the salt industry and supporting farmers engaged in salt production, the chief minister assured the House that the State would notify all salt pans, declare them as Biodiversity Heritage Sites, and ensure their protection from any form of development.
The revival initiative, to be implemented under the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), was formally launched during the International Day for Biodiversity 2025 celebrations held in Sanquelim last month.
At the event, the Chief Minister highlighted the ecological and cultural value of Goa’s salt pans, locally known as mithache agor. and said their restoration would be undertaken through scientific and community-driven collaboration.
“Be it khazan farming, kulagars, or sacred groves, Goa’s biodiversity is woven into its heritage. With support from CSMCRI Bhavnagar and experts like Prof Savita Kerkar, the state will revive salt pans focusing on local bio-salt production, ecological restoration, and revival of livelihoods,” Sawant had said.
