Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar launching the projects for development of water bodies in Fatorda. Captured by : Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Underscoring the need to protect the water bodies across the state in view of climate change, Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Saturday mulled developing not just one or two but, 2-5 water bodies in every village to meet the water requirements of the state in the future.
The WRD Minister further said that he is taking his mission to get 2000 farmers back to the fields and to bring back fallow land to cultivation step by step, exuding confidence that Goa will see a turnaround in agriculture in the coming years.
He was speaking to the media after launching the side protection wall to the nullah up the upstream side of the culvert in Fatorda constituency and improvement of the existing water body at Dovondem. Both the works will cost the exchequer Rs 45 lakh.
“We don’t know what the future holds for us on water given the climate change. Hence, we have to protect our water bodies in every village. We will have to take 2-5 water bodies for development and improvement,” he said.
He added: “We have decided to take up 150 water bodies in both North and South Goa district. We expect to complete work on these water bodies costing around Rs 40-50 crore by December end this year.”
Of the 150 water bodies which will be taken up for improvement, Shirodkar said the Navdurga Temple water tank has been taken up for improvement for Rs four crore, followed by the Karmali lake for Rs 3.5 crore, Maimolem lake, Vasco at a cost of Rs one crore.
Shirodkar reminded that when he had taken over the reins of WRD portfolio a year ago, he had announced plans to bring more farmers into the fields and bring fallow land under cultivation. “My assessment shows around 2000 new farmers will enter the fields and fields which remained fallow for 10-15 years will be brought under cultivation. In my Shiroda village itself, around 300 new farmers have returned to the fields after a gap of 20 years,” he added.
In his address, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai expressed his satisfaction that work on the project has started within six months after inspection by the WRD Minister.
Sardesai requested the WRD Minister to sanction wells for the farmers, saying that the wells along with pumps and fencing will help the farmers bring all the fields under cultivation.
The Fatorda MLA said the Dovondem water body will be revived for agriculture after the commissioning of the North Main Truck sewage line. “I had got the North Main Line sanction in 2017. Work on the project is nearing completion. Once the line is commissioned, discharge of sewage in the water body would stop and help cultivation of the fields," he added.
The WRD Minister further said that he is taking his mission to get 2000 farmers back to the fields and to bring back fallow land to cultivation step by step, exuding confidence that Goa will see a turnaround in agriculture in the coming years.
He was speaking to the media after launching the side protection wall to the nullah up the upstream side of the culvert in Fatorda constituency and improvement of the existing water body at Dovondem. Both the works will cost the exchequer Rs 45 lakh.
“We don’t know what the future holds for us on water given the climate change. Hence, we have to protect our water bodies in every village. We will have to take 2-5 water bodies for development and improvement,” he said.
He added: “We have decided to take up 150 water bodies in both North and South Goa district. We expect to complete work on these water bodies costing around Rs 40-50 crore by December end this year.”
Of the 150 water bodies which will be taken up for improvement, Shirodkar said the Navdurga Temple water tank has been taken up for improvement for Rs four crore, followed by the Karmali lake for Rs 3.5 crore, Maimolem lake, Vasco at a cost of Rs one crore.
Shirodkar reminded that when he had taken over the reins of WRD portfolio a year ago, he had announced plans to bring more farmers into the fields and bring fallow land under cultivation. “My assessment shows around 2000 new farmers will enter the fields and fields which remained fallow for 10-15 years will be brought under cultivation. In my Shiroda village itself, around 300 new farmers have returned to the fields after a gap of 20 years,” he added.
In his address, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai expressed his satisfaction that work on the project has started within six months after inspection by the WRD Minister.
Sardesai requested the WRD Minister to sanction wells for the farmers, saying that the wells along with pumps and fencing will help the farmers bring all the fields under cultivation.
The Fatorda MLA said the Dovondem water body will be revived for agriculture after the commissioning of the North Main Truck sewage line. “I had got the North Main Line sanction in 2017. Work on the project is nearing completion. Once the line is commissioned, discharge of sewage in the water body would stop and help cultivation of the fields," he added.
'More Goans becoming vegetarian'
MARGAO: Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Saturday said that more and more Goans are now becoming veggies, saying that cultivation of vegetables will not only help in consumption, but to sell the excess produce in the market.
“There’s an emerging trend that Goans are avoiding non-Veg food and going for vegetables. Cultivation of vegetables in one’s backyard will help meet the demand for consumption and sell the excess produce in the market,” he added.
