PONDA: Farmers from Kerya Khandepar have raised concerns with the Public Works Department (PWD) and National Highways (NH) authorities over the mud and debris that have spread across their agricultural fields at Simepayner. The affected fields are situated alongside the highway at Kerya.
Rocky Dias, a local farmer, expressed his frustration, stating that before the onset of the monsoon, the NH authorities commenced highway expansion work at this site. During the construction of the retaining wall, excess mud was left behind and not removed. When the monsoon arrived, the mud was washed away into the adjacent agricultural fields, spreading across the cultivated land.
Dias emphasised that if the mud is not removed, it could severely impact the fertility of the soil, jeopardising the livelihood of the farmers who depend on these fields for their paddy cultivation. Despite the completion of the highway expansion work, the NH authorities have not taken any steps to clear the mud from the fields, he lamented.
He highlighted the contradiction in government policies, where on one hand, the government encourages people to cultivate land, while on the other hand, agricultural fields are being damaged by development activities. Dias noted that a memorandum has been submitted to the Curti-Khandepar Panchayat, urging them to follow up with the NH authorities to ensure the mud is cleared and the fields are restored to their original state.
Furthermore, Dias pointed out that the natural nullah (water channel) that drains water from the nearby hills has been filled with mud and debris as a result of the construction activities. He stressed the need for the authorities to open the choked drain and restore the nullah to prevent further damage to the agricultural land.