Govt to treat Canacona case as special: Vijai Sardesai

MARGAO: Agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai on Tuesday assured that the government will provide maximum compensation to the farmers affected by the floods that occurred in Canacona on Saturday, following a detailed assessment of the loss by the agriculture department.

Addressing mediapersons on Tuesday, Sardesai said that the compensation will be paid through the Shetkari Aadhar Nidhi. However, as the amount would be inadequate to meet the actual requirements of funds for compensation, the money would be sourced from the Chief Minister's relief fund and the disaster management funds as well, he added.

"I have discussed the matter with the chief minister, and he has suggested that the Canacona case be considered as a special one so that one-time relief is made available to the affected farmers. The agriculture department will move the file in that regard to the chief minister soon, and the farmers will get the compensation," Sardesai said.

Goa Forward Party spokesperson, Prashant Naik, said that a team of GFP visited the affected villages of Canacona taluka on Monday, to take stock of the situation. He said that the agriculture department has constituted three teams which would physically verify the damages and quantify the losses sustained by the farmers.

Sardesai said that the government will also look at formulating a comprehensive scheme under the water resources department whereby the farmers will be incentivized to undertake construction of bandharas and their maintenance.