Tillari stalemate ends after Pawar's intervention

PANAJI: The water from Tillari Irrigation Project has finally reached Goa, after a dry spell of almost three weeks which affected large tracts of farmlands in the state.

The stalemate over releasing water ended after Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar intervened in the matter on Tuesday and convinced the agitators blocking the release of water from a canal in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district to call off their protest.

NCP MLA Dipak Kesarkar from Sawantwadi had requested Pawar to intervene in the matter.

The sit-in protest was held over alleged non-fulfilment of promises on rehabilitation made by the Goa government to the affected people during construction of the irrigation project, which runs through both the states.

According to agitators, the Manohar Parrikar government has assured them of giving government jobs as part of the rehabilitation package.

As soon as the protesters withdrew their agitation, water was immediately released in the canal which reached Goa last evening.

Ghanashyam Raut, Sarpanch from Sal village, where maximum farmers are dependent on this irrigation project, said they heaved a sigh of relief after water reached the canal.

"There were worries that entire crop of sugarcane and banana would be destroyed due to scarcity of water. The things will be normal now", he said.

Although agitators have temporarily withdrawn the protest, the issue will be raised again in January 18 meeting of Tillari Irrigation Development Board in which officials from Goa and Maharashtra would participate.

Tillari dam is constructed on Tillari river as the result of a joint project by the Maharashtra and Goa governments.