Bicholim ryots aggrieved over lack of irrigation facilities

KERI: Horticulturists and agriculturists in Bicholim taluka have been aggrieved over lack of water supply for irrigation from the mining pits, even though it’s been months since the end of the monsoon season.
During the rainy season, farmers receive regular supply of water for irrigation through streams and rivers. However, post the monsoon, farmers are dependent on water from the mining pits for their irrigation needs.
While this supply continued when mining was active, with the closure of mining operations in Bicholim, the supply of water for irrigation has been badly affected as many mining companies have stopped pumping out water from the mining pits.
Across the mining belt of Bicholim, the severe effect of mining can be seen on cultivation practices of local farmers. Repeated silting of nallahs during rains have altered their course through deposit of sediments from mining operations. This has affected the traditional source of water supply that the farmers in these areas have depended on since decades. Similarly, due to excavations carried out by mining firms, the aquifers are known to have been disturbed, which has reduced water supply to the farmers. Land and fields used for cultivation have not only seen a diminished supply of irrigation water, but sediments from mining activities has deposited on cultivated land.
Recently, agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai and speaker of legislative assembly, Pramod Sawant instructed mining companies to initiate measures to release water from the mining pits to help farmers. However, very few companies have followed these directives sincerely.
Uday Natekar, a horticulturist from Surla said, “Since the last three months, our fields have been badly affected as there was no irrigation water available. Creepers of pepper and other horticultural plants are in need of urgent irrigation water in this season. Hence, we approached the government authorities with our problem.”
Assistant engineer of water resources department (WRD), Bicholim, K P Naik who spoke to TOI, said, “Our department has taken initiatives to supply irrigation water to horticulturists from Surla and Shirgao through pumps installed by mining companies at the mining pits. The affected horticulturists have been receiving water now.”
Surla sarpanch Subhash Fondekar told TOI, “Due to the efforts of MLA Pramod Sawant, the problem of irrigation water supply has been solved with water being pumped from the mining pits.