MARGAO
In Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai’s Fatorda constituency, once fertile fields are now covered with thick carpet of the world’s fastest growing weed -- water hyacinth.
To see it for yourself, visit the sprawling agricultural fields nestled between Ambaji and Davondem located along the eastern bypass. Given the greenery all around the fields, a first-time visitor will return back with an impression that the fields are put to use by the local farmers. A close glance will unearth the bitter reality -- the once fertile fields are now lying fallow following the devastation caused by rampant discharge of sewage as a result of the dilapidated sewage line.
In fact, large tracts of fertile agricultural land are covered with thick green carpet of water hyacinth weed, right from Ambaji to Davondem and beyond. Experts say the weed grows faster in water mixed with sewage, indicating that the dilapidated Arlem-Ambaji line has been the source of the devastation of these fertile fields.
When The Goan team visited the fields on Saturday evening for a first-hand experience, locals pointed out that farmers, including dairy farmers, have stopped stepping into the fields for fear of being affected by disease. “In the past, people had complained of boils surfacing all over the legs after visiting the fields,” informed a local resident Gokuldas Naik. He pointed out that the entire area is enveloped by sewage odour, especially during late evenings and early mornings.
Locals pointed out that the situation has not come about overnight, but is a result of the apathy of successive governments to attend to the burning sewerage issue.
A resident of Ambjai Levis Pereira said that local residents have been subjected to foul odour day in and out with sewage flowing out in the fields from a damaged chamber. “This should stop immediately. The fields are devastated because of the sewage water from the damaged line,” Levis added.
In the past, residents of Davondem led by former councillor Johnny Crasto had complained of sewage water from the underground sewerage line finding its way into the fields, leaving the farmers with no option than to abandon cultivation.
When The Goan called up Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai to shed light on the devastation of the agricultural fields by water hyacinth weed and sewage, he pointed out that he is seized of the issue and has moved the government to sanction the missing sewerage link between Arlem and the Presentation Convent to resolve the issue once and for all.
“This systemic issue cannot be resolved in a single day. To rid the fields of hyacinth, the first thing we have to do is to replace the damaged sewerage line. To replace the sewerage line, the government should make budgetary provision for funds. I have already got the government to sanction funds to the tune of Rs 93 crore to replace the ageing line from behind the district hospital under construction at Ambaji to Sirvodem STP plant. I have put forth a proposal to the government to replace the Arlem-Ambaji-Davondem line at a cost of Rs 25-40 crore. Once this work is taken up and completed, not only sewage will stop flowing into the fields, but de-weeding can be carried out to restore the fields for agricultural activities,” Sardesai added.
