Saline water inundates Neura fields, farmers raise alarm

Panaji: Farmers of the Neura O Grande Tenants’ Association are once again agitated after saline water flooded the khazan area up to the panchayat building, though no breaches in the bundhs have been reported.

Two months ago, a similar influx of saline water from a damaged Damda sluice gate in Neura had affected farmers in Dongorim. The association has now complained to the Tiswadi mamlatdar, stating that the flooding is hampering cultivation for the kharif season.

The water level has reached the panchayat building located on reclaimed khazan land near the Pilar–Old Goa road. “The water level has reached cultivated fields in Neura but no damage is done,” a farmer said.

Saline water ingress usually occurs due to breaches in bundhs or when sluice gates are damaged or deliberately left open during high tide. While bundhs in Neura were repaired at a cost of around Rs 9 crore, farmers allege that a few of the nine sluice gate operators may be responsible for the current situation.

Earlier, farmers had alleged sabotage behind flooding in Dongorim, where large tracts of fields from Agasaim to Carambolim were submerged due to breaches.

“The flooding is due to deliberate release of saline water for fishing purposes,” said Ramrao Wagh, convenor of the Khazan action committee.

Wagh said surveillance across the vast fields is difficult and called for police patrolling. “Farmers are keenly awaiting the formation of a khazan board as assured to AAP MLA Cruz Silva in the Goa assembly,” he said.