OLD GOA
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar said he will not rest till the khazan fields in his constituency are rendered cultivable.
Borkar made the statement after inspecting the inundated khazan fields at Neura, Mandur and Azossim along with officials of the Revenue, WRD and Soil Conservation (SCD) departments.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Borkar said it is the duty of the departments concerned as well as the tenants' associations to ensure that saline water does not inundate the khazan fields.
“However, that has not been the case due to which farming activity is affected. But, now that I have been elected as St Andre MLA and being a farmer myself, I will ensure that the issue of inundating the khazans with saline water is not continued, and the farmers can return to farming,” Borkar informed.
When pointed out that such inspections have happened many times in the past without any solution to the problem, Borkar shot back, “I will not rest till the khazans are rendered cultivable. I will hold meetings with officials of revenue, WRD and SCD departments to get to the root of the problem and solve it.”
To another question, Borkar said apart from reviving khazans in St Andre constituency, he will also focus on reviving khazans in the entire State.
Borkar also took up the issue of inclusion of farmers' names in the committee of the tenants association which have been held up on one pretext or the other.
“There are hundreds of farmers in Neura itself but hardly few of them are registered as members in the tenant association due to which its functioning is affected,” he said and demanded that the process for inclusion of names should be expedited.
Tiswadi Mamlatdar Dhashrath Gawas, SCD EE Nazareth Vaz, AE Rajesh Kenaudekar, JE Parkar, WRD JE Shailesh Faldessai, farmers and villagers were present for the inspection.
Will form panel to probe inundation of khazans with saline water: Mamlatdar
OLD GOA
Stating that his department will look into the issue of the inundation of khazans with saline water, Tiswadi Mamlatdar Dashrath Gawas informed that he would form a committee to investigate the root cause of the problem and work out a solution to the same.
“It is important that the interests of the farmers are protected and not only the interests of those undertaking fishing activities. And to ensure that, I will form a committee to investigate the cause of the problem and try to solve it,” assured Gawas.
He stated that in a week, a meeting of all departments concerned will be organised at the Neura panchayat to chalk out the future course of action.
“At this meeting, the affected farmers and villagers can also remain present,” he said.
Later, he issued directions to the Talathis to assist those farmers who wish to include their names as members in the tenants' associations.
Meanwhile, the farmers highlighted that the inundation of the khazan fields is due to the deliberate release of saline water by the sluice gates rights holders who want to increase fish production.
“It is important to continuously monitor the activities of the sluice gates rights holders and punish those who are conducting illegalities,” the farmers pointed.
