Locals accuse WRD of failing to act despite repeated warnings
One of the silted bandharas in Sattari taluka.
VALPOI
The threat of floods persists across several villages in Sattari taluka, with silt in bandharas built on various rivers still not removed for years. Despite consistent demands over the last 10 years to desilt the bandharas, local farmers allege that the Water Resources Department (WRD) has completely ignored the issue.
About 20 years ago, bandharas were built on the Valvanti, Mahadayi and other rivers in Sattari under the ‘adwa paani, jirwa paani’ (‘stop the water, let it sink/percolate’) initiative. Rainwater stored in these bandharas was supplied to farms through lift irrigation, bringing lakhs of square metres under irrigation.
This led to a significant rise in agricultural output, especially in cashew, mango, banana, coconut and areca nut plantations. However, heavy siltation in these same bandharas has now crippled the entire scheme.
Massive silt deposits in barrage reservoirs over the last decade have drastically reduced their storage capacity. Farmers claim they now get far less water for irrigation than expected. In peak summer months of April and May, crops begin to wither due to inadequate supply. Areas meant for water storage are now filled with silt, making retention impossible.
Experts say desilting is essential every two years to maintain storage. Yet, in the 10 years since these bandharas were built, virtually all bandharas have not been desilted.
Silt-clogged riverbeds slow drainage, causing water to surge into settlements. For the past five years, villages and farmlands along the riverbanks have faced repeated flooding, causing major crop losses and putting several homes at risk.
Two years ago, several Sattari villages were hit by such flooding. Nine houses in the Harijanwada area of Khadki-Sattari collapsed, and farmlands suffered massive damage. With no desilting done this year either, the same fear haunts residents. They fear that rivers are likely to overflow, triggering fresh flood conditions.
Locals said MLA Deviya Rane has repeatedly raised the issue in the Assembly, but the WRD is yet to act. They have alleged multiple proposals for desilting have been ignored by the department. This has sparked anger among residents, who have warned that WRD officials would be held responsible if floods occur this year.
