MARGAO: Even as sewage and effluent pollution continue to plague Salcete's water bodies, several farmers from Sao Jose de Areal have complained of skin infections and festering rashes, after their agricultural fields were contaminated with dirty water from a fish processing unit nearby.
This illegal discharge of untreated waste has not only caused health issues, but has also damaged the food crops they cultivate, said the farmers. Speaking to reporters on Monday, at least 25 farmers engaged in cultivating foodgrains and vegetables demanded that the authorities concerned initiate action in order to stop the pollution of their fertile fields.
The agricultural fields that have been contaminated with fish waste are in very close vicinity of the Sao Jose de Areal panchayat office. While many farmers from the agrarian village have been cultivating the fields in the area for decades, many have been forced to stop farming due to the stinking black water entering their fields on a regular basis. “We have been cultivating crops and vegetables here for several decades. In these past few years, many of our farmers have been badly hit due to the discharge of dirty water from the fish processing units located at the Nessai Industrial Estate that enters our fields through the nullah,” claimed Dumiana Pereira, a farmer. She added that many of them have suffered skin diseases due to working in the dirty water, and as a result, a few have even stopped farming altogether.
“Undertaking agricultural activities has become a difficult task for us, and we are losing our livelihood due to the pollution of the fields,” said Inacio, another farmer.
He claimed that their grievances have fallen on deaf ears and has disheartened the farmers who no longer wish to step into their contaminated fields. “All the agricultural fields in the village will be destroyed, if the discharge of dirty water is not stopped immediately,” he stressed. However, Joyce Dias, Sarpanch of Sao Jose De Areal VP told Herald that the panchayat had already filed a complaint before the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSBCB) and they are waiting for the authorities to take appropriate action.
“We (the panchayat) had even visited the farmers and had served notices to the fish processing unit concerned; it was asked to stop the discharge of water from the factory into the fields,” said the Sarpanch, who promised to follow-up with the GSPCB.