Saline water floods paddy fields,pollutes 35 wells in Aldona HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 30 Large tracts of paddy fields have been inundated and about 35 wells in Kushem Waddo, Aldona, has been polluted by the flow of saline water, as the 250-metre bundh near ferry wharf in Corjuem (Aldona) has breached at seven places. According to sources, during the high tide the saline water gushes into the fields every day as a result of which the fate of large number of farmers is hanging in the balance. The farmers have requested Vankhazan Tenants Association (VTA) to repair the bundh, but the VTA regretted its inability to repair the bundh for want of funds. The Agriculture Department had sanctioned funds of Rs 1.12 lakh, but the money not has been released. Speaking to Herald, Prasad Mhambre of Kushem Waddo said that they had submitted a letter with the signatures of the villagers to Aldona panchayat in February through ward member Priyanka Panjiker with a request to repair the bundh immediately. “The panchayat had passed a resolution to repair the bundh, but no follow up has been done by the panchayat with the Block Development Office to get it repaired,” said Mhambre. “Meanwhile, the mangroves have started growing at the places of breaches in the bundh and if no steps are taken by the irrigation department to repair it before the onset of monsoon then the mangroves will grow bigger and it will not be possible to repair the bundh after the monsoon,” he added. “The local MLA and Aldona sarpanch are fully aware of the problem, but they have so far not acted in the matter,” said Mhambre. Former principal of Rosary High School John Mascarenhas has said that his well has been completely polluted and hence he has stopped using the water for drinking purpose. “For the last 11 years, we were using the well water for drinking purpose and the quality of water was very good. However due to saline water entering the village, all the wells in Kushem Waddo have been polluted to such an extent that the water is no fit for using plantation also,” said Mascarenhas. “We have made several requests to the concerned authorities to repair the bundh but in vain,” he added. VTA President Kishore Gadekar said that since the Association does not have funds, they are unable to repair the bundh. He further said that the agriculture department has advised them to invest their money and get the bundh repaired and then claim the amount from the government. _________________________________________________________________ More than messages–check out the rest of the Windows Live™. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/
