MARGAO
Even as the consultative process for finalising an Agriculture Policy is underway in the State, Saxttikars have cautioned that the departments of Agriculture, Town and Country Planning (TCP), the Water Resources Department (WRD), and the Power department should not work at cross purposes but in tandem to boost agriculture.
During the Salcete taluka level consultative meeting organized by the Agriculture department at the Matanhy Saldanha Administrative complex on Monday, stakeholders from Salcete expressed concern that the new Agriculture policy set in motion by the Agriculture department might become a futile exercise if the government carries out large-scale conversion of agricultural land.
“When we have all gathered to provide input to save the agriculture fields by formulating a new Agriculture Policy, we read reports of zoning changes and conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. Hence, there’s an urgent need for coordination among the departments of Agriculture, TCP, and the WRD to promote agriculture,” asserted social activist Zarina Da Cunha.
Reminding that the Selaulim Irrigation project was initiated with the sole objective of helping farmers grow more than two or three crops, Zarinha, however, lamented that raw water from Selaulim today is being supplied to polluting industries, which has devastated the groundwater table in their area of operation.
Navelim Bio-diversity Management Committee Chairman Joao D’Souza mentioned the recent statement made by Power Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar in favor of setting up solar power generation panels in the farm lands.
“There seems to be a trust deficit among the people with the government. There cannot be contradictory statements by the Ministers when the draft Agriculture policy process is underway. The government should be transparent in its dealings,” Joao added.
Stakeholders have discussed strict punishment, including penalties, for government officials heading departments involved in discharging sewage water into agricultural fields, leaving the fields fallow.
Joao D’Sozua strongly advocated incorporating punishment and penal action against government departments for violating the provisions of the Water Act.
Protection of water bodies, timely construction of the bunds, and repairs of sluice gates were suggested by several farmers during the discussion.
Convenor of Chandor Village Development Committee Julio D’Silva suggested that the draft agriculture policy should be returned to the panchayat for discussions.
