OLD GOA
Farmers of Neura have appealed to authorities to ensure that sluice gates in the village are sealed to stop saline water from entering khazan land so that cultivation could be taken up in the village.
Speaking to The Goan, Revolutionary Goans member and farmer Viresh Borkar informed that khazan land in Neura is one of the biggest khazans in Goa.
“But it is deliberately being inundated with saline water to benefit a few. We wrote to the chief minister, revenue minister, agriculture department, revenue department, soil conservation department, but nothing has happened,” said Borkar, while demanding that the sluice gates should be sealed till May as was practiced in olden times.
“When farmers want to cultivate their fields they cannot do so due to the salinity. It discourages farmers from taking up farming. Here, the auction of sluice gates has not happened but fishing activity is going on unabated. How is this allowed to happen? Since the sluice gates are looked after by the Mamlatdar it should be his responsibility to ensure fishing activity is stopped,” Borkar said.
“Youth are trying to venture into farming through modern technology. However, such vast khazan land in Neura is lying uncultivable and there is absolutely no support from government authorities,” he stated.
Borkar further stated the Revolutionary Goans will organise a meeting of all farmers of Tiswadi on how to tackle the challenges which are being faced by the farming community particularly due to the inundation of fields as such problems are also pertinent in other villages like Mandur, Carambolim, Curca, etc.
Borkar further said a bundh has been constructed by spending Rs 9 crore but it has not served its purpose of stopping the saline water from entering the fields.
“The quality of construction is very poor. Authorities concerned should inspect the bundh and direct the contractor to fix the issues. Otherwise, the purpose of building the bundh will be defeated,” Borkar added.
Another farmer, Jeetu Sawant, said the situation is so bad that fields which were never inundated are getting inundated with saline water.
“Some farmers conducted soil test and found salt content in the fields. If this continues, how are we going to cultivate our fields?” he questioned while demanding that the sluice gates should be sealed till May, as used to happen earlier which will help in prevention of saline water entering the fields.
Sawant appealed to the government to appoint a flying squad with the agriculture department to keep an eye on illegalities at the sluice gates so that affected farmers could complaint to the flying squad and get the issues resolved.
“If that does not happen, the issues of inundation of fields with saline water will continue not only in Neura but all over Goa,” he stated. “I request the chief minister and revenue minister to look into the matter,” he added.
Another farmer, Manohar Naik, also demanded that sluice gates be completely sealed till May. “After May, the sluice gates should be opened,” he stated.
Naik also informed that the bundh which has been constructed is of poor quality. “Even though the bundh is constructed, the fields continue to be inundated with saline water. Why is this happening?” he questioned.
