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SURGE OF TREES AND SHRUBS
* Mangroves grow due to breaches in bunds which go unrepaired for long time
* Saplings take root and that’s how mangroves begin growing and spreading
* Earlier the bhatkars and mamlatdar used to look after the bunds and their repairs
* With Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act coming into force, condition of bunds began to deteriorate
* At least 50 per cent of land in Chorao has been lost to mangroves and to River Mandovi
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MISMANAGEMENT OF BUNDS?
* AG Untawale, secretary of Mangrove Society of India blames the mismanagement of bunds by the farmers
* He says, non-repair of bunds allowed salt water to enter khazan land alomg with seedlings of mangroves
* Constant presence of salt water allowed mangroves to thrive leading to reduction of khazan land, says Untawale
* According to him, they should have been removed in the initial stages
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PANAJI: Discontent has been spreading rapidly among Chorao locals over the loss of khazan and settlement lands to the spreading cover of mangroves. While Chorao’s population and its needs have grown steadily, habitable and cultivable land on the island is on a decline. Considering this, the proposed buffer zone was later reduced to 100 mts. But Chorao continues to await concrete announcements to this effect.​
Outlining the origin of the issue, President of Chorao Farmers’ Club Premanand Mhambre said, “There have always been mangroves outside the bunds. Earlier the bhatkars and mamlatdar used to look after the bunds and their repairs. With the Goa Agricultural Tenancy Act, 1964 coming into force, condition of bunds began to deteriorate despite 90 per cent government funding for the purpose. By allowing entry of salt water into khazans, farmers’ committees began to make quick buck off fishing.”
Land which comprises Salim Ali bird sanctuary was previously a private khazan land owned by bhatkars. A small patch of land belonged to the communidade of Chorao.
Fate of Chorao’s khazan land is no different from other khazans in Goa: Left uncultivated for a long time, mangroves have gradually eaten it up.
Making a case for protection of khazan land, Mhambre stated, “Government should give this land to those interested in cultivating it. Goa has around 180 sq kms of khazan land. Along with mangroves, protect khazans too.”
Khazan farming, he held, is a self-sustaining economic model which provides not just rice and vegetables but also fish.
Yet, the fact remains that some mangroves will have to be cleared for cultivation of khazan land in Chorao. “At least 50 per cent of land in Chorao has been lost to mangroves and to River Mandovi. If we try to clear a few lines of mangroves, NGOs make noise but they do not help in conservation of the khazan land,” Mhambre rued.
Salvador Fernandes from Chorao put the onus of responsibility on the tenancy Act. “After the tenancy Act came into force, bhatkars shirked their responsibility. Mangroves grow due to breaches in bunds which went unrepaired for long time. Saplings took root and that’s how the mangroves began growing and spreading through Tikhazan, Ekoshe and Maddel. Then a huge part of formerly cultivate land was declared as a mangrove forest,” Fernandes said.
A few locals added that barges transporting ore traversing in the river waters increased the frequency of breaches in the bunds and that marshy land and high tide proved conducive to the growth of mangroves. “We want the mangroves because they make Chorao serene and beautiful. But permit us to take care of our mangroves that have grown up naturally and were not planted by anyone,” said one resident.
Government has availed a loan of Rs 150 crores from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to repair bunds all over Goa. Of this, Rs eight to nine crores have already been spent on Chorao and two long bunds have been repaired. The foundation stone for another bund worth Rs five crore will be laid on January 27.
AG Untawale, secretary of Mangrove Society of India blamed the mismanagement of bunds by the farmers. “This allowed salt water to enter khazan land. Seedlings of mangroves entered with the water. Constant presence of saltwater allowed mangroves to thrive leading to reduction of khazan land and increase in mangrove cover. They should have been removed in the initial stages,” he said.
He informed that a mangrove sapling takes around three to four years to mature.
Over the time, mangroves attracted birds to Chorao and almost 20 per cent of the island was later declared as a bird sanctuary.
Srikrishna Haldankar of United Citizens of Chorao said that land acquisition for the proposed Chorao bridge is bound to face hurdles due to the increasing mangrove cover and proposed buffer zone around the bird sanctuary.
When Union Ministry of Environment and Forest around wildlife sanctuaries of Goa proposed one kilometer buffer zone around sanctuaries in Goa, Chorao locals opposed it fearing loss of more land. They have also objected to the marking of a buffer zone around the bird sanctuary in RP 2021.
Offering a different perspective on the issue, Fernandes pointed out, “One km, buffer zone would eat up the entire of Maddel ward of Chorao-Maddel Panchayat comprising around 100 houses.”
