MARGAO
Curtorim’s rich bio-diversity consisting of water bodies, and its water used for irrigation and fishing was on display on Sunday as farmers netted a moderate catch of the prized much-sought after fresh water fish.
Indeed, the miraculous Handi Khuris at Maina in Curtorim village saw rush of people on Sunday morning, but for a different reason -- fish lovers from Curtorim and outside made a beeline to the water body to lay their hands on the fresh water fish.
In fact, the season’s first harvest of fresh lake water fish brought smiles on the faces of farmers cultivating the fields at the famous Handi Khuris tollem at Maina in Curtorim village. With Curtorim, considered the granary of Salcete, blessed with nearly half-a-dozen fresh water lakes, where water is stored for irrigation to cultivate the fields, the much-awaited harvest of fresh water fish from the water bodies have begun from Sunday.
As the farmers netted tonnes of fresh water fish including chonok, Katla, rohu et al and brought the catch on the banks of the water body, fish lovers laid their hands on perhaps the first fresh water fish of the season.
Maina resident and a farmer, Simon Barretto said harvesting of fish at the Maina lake near the Handi Khuris has taken place on Sunday. “The farmers had auctioned the fish for harvesting. Fish is harvested at the lake after the harvesting of paddy. We are happy that a moderate to good catch of fresh water fish was reported at the Maina lake,” he said.
He added: “What we have seen on Sunday isn’t just about the Handi Khuris, the fields and the fish. This is all about the rich bio-diversity the Maina-Curtorim village is famous for. We have to protect our rich diversity from destruction.”
Simon was making an obvious reference to the controversial row bungalow project which was proposed on the banks of the water body, which had kicked up a storm in the village last year. “Today, the farmers have netted tonnes of fresh water fish and fish lovers have come in large numbers to buy the fish since they know that the water is pure and not contaminated. This is the reason why the farmers and the local residents have been opposing the row bungalow project as they apprehended amongst other things that the garbage and sewage waste may find its way to the water body,” Simon pointed out even as he appealed to the panchayat body to respect the sentiments of the farmers and the people and stop the proposed construction project.
Farmers from Handi Khuris and local residents had in late 2022 vehemently objected to the proposed housing project mooted on the banks of the water body, which had later prompted the panchayat to revoke the permissions issued for the project.
