MARGAO
Beleaguered farmers of Thonddvaddo in Betalbatim village face the bitter prospect of their cultivated fields getting destroyed this season, with seawater entering the fields and there’s no way for the drainage of the water back into the sea.
For the last eight days, farmers have been running from pillar to post to convince the authorities to open the way of the ‘Handi’ (water body) with a JCB machine to pave way for the saline water to return back into the sea, but in vain. The saline water that entered the land as well as the rain water flowing into the ‘Handi’ from the village has found its way into the fields since there is no drainage of the water into the sea. The pathway used by the farmers is also submerged under water.
They pointed out that it may not even take half an hour for the JCB machine to open the ‘Handi’ to drain out the accumulated water, but lamented that the authorities have only made them to move from pillar to post till date.
What has left the farmers disappointed is that not a single authority has positively responded to their plight to drain out the seawater. In fact, the cultivated fields are all lying inundated with sea water, as attempts made by the farmers to open the ‘Handi’ manually has come a cropper.
Also attempts made by the farmers to open the ‘Handi’ with the help of a JCB machine has hit a block as authorities insist on permission from the Coastal Regulation Zone authority to use a machine.
When the farmers made out their case before the talathi and other Collectorate officials, they have been told to approach the Coastal Regulation Zone authority for permission to use the JCB. “We have been knocking the doors of every authority since the last eight days. They have only suggested us to go to other authorities for permission,” lamented a farmer.
Another farmer wondered whether inundation of the paddy fields by seawater for lack of drainage does not amount to national calamity. “When cultivated fields of around 30 farmers are submerged under seawater, is this not a disaster and natural calamity. Instead of telling the farmers to move the authorities, why has the district Collector not intervened to bail out the farmers by obtaining permission to use JCB to open the Handi,” he said.
A farmer claimed that they had to encounter similar situation last monsoons, but the Handi was opened by using a JCB. “This year, we are being told by the police and other authorities to get the CRZ permission. The district Collector should treat the issue as a disaster and natural calamity and intervene on priority before the paddy starts rotting, causing loses,” the farmer added.
Another farmer claimed that it has cost her around Rs 25,000 to cultivate the paddy, fearing that the situation may destroy her crops and cause huge losses. “The authorities will not give us full compensation for the losses. In the past, we were paid a pittance for the loss of crops,” another farmer claimed.
Anthony Falcao and Santan Fernandes made a fervent plea to the government to intervene in the matter and provide relief to the beleaguered farmers. “Eight days have already passed since the sea water had entered the fields. The paddy will start rotting if a JCB is not deployed to open the ‘Handi’ and drain out the water. Since this is happening every year, the government should allow the farmers to use the JCB to open the ‘Handi’,” they added.
