Fear culverts under construction will not help prevent inundation of fields
MARGAO
For a change, smiles returned on the faces of farmers waging a sustained movement alongside Benaulim villagers in support of the demand for the western bypass passing through the Tolleaband water body on stilts.
For, the beleaguered farmers cultivating the fields at Tolleaband-Benaulim registered a good paddy harvest this season, as their experiment with two crops at the low-lying fields met with success.
They, however, have no idea what lies in store for them in the future with the government bulldozing with the western bypass through the Tolleaband water body via land filling when they have been fighting for the construction of the bypass on stilts.
In fact, even as the farmers were engaged in paddy harvesting at Tolleaband, dozens of trucks were plying along the bypass alignment, dumping tonnes of mud to raise an embankment and pave way for the construction of the bypass.
Raymond and Miguel Fernandes appeared upbeat after they realised their hard efforts to cultivate the crops at Tolleaband has paid rich dividends. In fact, the duo confessed having harvested good crop for the second year in succession, but had no idea what lies in store for them in the coming years.
For, the western bypass passes right through the Tolleaband water body, dividing their paddy fields into two, with the farmers fearing that the culverts under construction by the PWD will not help prevent inundation of fields.
The farmers have gone in for two crops at the Tolleaband water body since the last three years, but the ongoing bypass works has cast doubts whether they will be able to cultivate the fields in the future. “These are the water catchment areas of Benaulim village. The rain water gets stored in these fields before they get drained out in the river Sal. If the fields get inundated for days because of water logging, it will spell doom for agriculture,” remarked Raymond.
He added: “We have already lost our land to make way for the bypass. We do not know whether we will be able to cultivate the fields in the monsoons if the fields lay waterlogged because of land filling of vast area for the bypass.”
Both Raymond and Miguel pointed out that they along with the villagers have been knocking the doors of all and sundry with a plea to build the bypass on stilts and save the village from destruction. While the demand of the villagers and farmers to construct bypass on stilts seemed to have gone abegging, they, however, seemed hoping against hope that the government will see reason and build the bypass at Tolleaband on stilts.
