Cultivate fallow land, use water judiciously: WRD minister

MARGAO: Minister for water resources Subhash Shirodkar commissioned the lift irrigation scheme project at Molcornem, Sanguem, on the World Water Day, in presence of social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai.
The lift irrigation scheme is meant for pumping water from the main canal of Selaulim Irrigation Project to the delivery tank at Ambetembo for water distribution to Nagvem, Molcornem, and Zanodem villages of Quepem taluka.It was taken up at the cost of Rs 32 crore, of which Rs 28 crore soft loan has been provided by Nabard.
400 hectares of land of Nagvem, Molcornem, and Zanodem villages will benefit from this project, it was informed. Shirodkar said that the foundation for the dam at Kajumol, Dharbandora will be laid soon and that the construction of four new dams is also on the anvil.
He said that the government will provide two tractors each in North and South Goa which will cater to tilling and plantation work. Shirodkar also urged people to preserve water and use it judiciously. He also appealed to people not to leave any land fallow and assured them of providing necessary irrigation facilities to the farmers.
Stating that various development projects have been planned for Sanguem constituency in various sectors like tourism, agriculture, water resources, etc, Shirodkar said that the botanical garden in Selaulim will be developed at Rs 30 crore.
This project comprises five pumping units of 700 HP each. It also has a 33KV sub station with a 2,500 KVA transformer running on 33/11 KV supply. This project has a micro distribution network for the supply of water to the fields through gravity flow, half-round RCC pipes with canal gates, and a distribution chamber to the fields of the farmers.