Major relief for farmers as WRD okays project
The site where the protection wall will be constructed.
VALPOI
Taking serious note of the large-scale damage caused to agricultural and horticultural lands along the banks of the Mhadei River during the monsoon season, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has approved the construction of a protection wall at Bhom Padeli at an estimated cost of Rs 95 lakh.
The project is expected to provide major relief to several farmers by protecting their farmland from erosion and flood damage. The inauguration of the work is likely to take place soon.
According to information, lands situated along the banks of the Mhadei River in Sattari taluka suffer severe soil erosion every year during the monsoon.
As the river overflows during heavy rains, water enters nearby fields, damaging crops and plantations. In several cases, portions of agricultural land have also been washed away, causing substantial financial losses to farmers.
Keeping this issue in mind, the WRD has been focusing on constructing protection walls at vulnerable locations.
Accordingly, a riverbank protection wall will now be built at Bhom Padeli at an estimated cost of Rs 95 lakh. The tender process for the project has recently been finalised, and the actual construction work is expected to begin shortly.
Sources from the WRD stated that the proposal was submitted following continuous demands from local farmers. Local MLA Deviya Rane had pursued the matter to secure relief for the farming community. The project is expected to prevent further erosion of riverbank land and safeguard agricultural and horticultural areas.
Welcoming the government’s decision, farmers also pointed out the need for similar protection walls along other vulnerable stretches of the Mhadei River.
Farmers said they invest significant effort in developing plantations and cultivating crops, but recurring floods often destroy their hard work. Soil erosion and riverbank collapses have caused heavy losses in several areas over the years.
According to local farmers, the situation has worsened after the construction of the Ganje project, as increased water storage has put additional pressure on riverbank lands, leading to a rise in erosion and landslide incidents. They described the government’s decision as an important and timely step.
Reacting to the development, MLA Deviya Rane said a proposal had been submitted to the WRD after taking serious note of the repeated losses faced by farmers.
“I thank Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar for approving the project. The protection wall will help solve the farmers’ problems and encourage them to continue farming with renewed confidence,” said Rane.
