Today I visited the Zonal agricultural office at Margao as we had recently received a letter from them stating they had given no permission to the TCP or any other department for change in land use or zone . While I was discussing I asked the department head why he does not take up seriously the case of construction near agricultural fields and should not there be a buffer zone while he agreed that all this construction was affecting agriculture and the farmers he was helpless .He very eagerly told me to go either to the pollution control board or the collector .[I have reached a stage whereby I hate to be told by some department where to go as its their way of passing the buck and not taking action and being accountable] . I told him please do not tell a poor farmer to go to the Collector and to PCB Panjim We know you as the agricultural department and its up to you to assist us . I told him if he issued letters on the farmers behalf to the PCB he would get copies of the report and the outcome which could be studied and if the results prove across the board what we fear that construction near paddy fields affects agriculture and the health of the farmers [sores etc have been reported from many places] then he should immediately send this to the collector and the TCP as it’s the collector that issues Sanads along with the report of the TCP and the Mamlatdar the agriculture department however has no say in the matter .
The poor man already burdened with nothing to do was not willing to take this extra job .I told him while I was sitting making this valid suggestion which would help so many suffering farmers at the cost of my daughter waiting to be picked up he was being paid and refusing to assist the farmer .I went on to tell him if the department continued like this and did not assert itself they would need to close and perhaps it did not matter as he would anyway be nearing the retirement age . Conclusion :If someone can please invite information where construction has come or coming up near fields or in them ask the PCB to do a report of the pollution effects on the soil and water in the area compile the data and send to the TCP collector and expose what is taking place in the name of development .However if this is already done then please advise with the same so others can use in their respective cases . At the close I fail to understand how Rs 150 for about a week can help the 1 farmer as it takes more than one to work on the field !! besides labourers take more than Rs 150 . I do not understand why the zonal agricultural department does not visit the villages to distribute manure etc instead of the local MLA !!?? After asking the Panchayat for over 3 years to clean the ponds rebuild the bundhs etc its still not done never mind agriculture we can at least have rain water harvesting which our Prime Minister speaks about so our water table is maintained . Seems like all the departments and people that have to do what they need to are busy doing something else no wonder things are the way they are . Kim -- check ou www.ganvghor.blogspot.com GANV GHOR RAKHONN MANCH is an increasing collective of all village groups who are fighting to protect lives, livelihoods and environment in their villages
