Soiru Velip

Panaji

Stating that there has been a decline in agriculture, including sugarcane cultivation, at the foothills of the Goa stretch of the Western Ghats, the Third State Finance Commission in its report has said the downturn in farming could pose a threat to the livelihood in rural areas in the long run.

The three-member panel headed by Daulat Hawaldar submitted its report to the Governor. Later, it was tabled during the recently held budget session of the state legislative assembly.

The commission during its field visits to the state found that there has been a perennial problem of wild animals along the Goa stretch of the Ghats.

The report has stressed that the sugarcane cultivation needs to be supported to revive the viability of farming.

The panel has found that there has been irregular supply of piped water in various parts of Goa, and recommended setting up of more water treatment plants based on assessment of demand and supply.

The authorities should replace old water pipes in a phased manner, the report has said, adding that there has been an extensive dependence on piped water in panchayats areas.

“Being a coastal belt, Goa has a huge resource of waterbodies like lakes, ponds, springs and traditional wells, in the backyard of old Goan houses.

The panchayats need to regularly de-silt their natural waterbodies and use the water for non-drinking purposes. The revival of traditional water resources is one of the important activities of the local bodies and a sufficient fund that is 30% of the tied grants for water and sanitation are already made available to the local bodies through 15th central Finance Commission. The local bodies can take help from line departments like the public works department and the water resources department for revival of traditional resources,” the report has observed.

Flagging the paucity of funds at the local-self-governing bodies, the commission has said financially weak panchayats have no resources even to cut dangerous trees.

To tackle the financial crunch, the commission has recommended a climate change fund of `10 crore per year during the award period for the weaker panchayats and Group ‘C’ municipal authorities.

Pre-monsoon works, cutting of dangerous trees, post-monsoon works like weeding and other emergent activities arising out of climate change can be taken up from these grants.

“The climate change effects are visible in Goa. Being part of Western Ghats, it is more vulnerable to climate change effects. It has been seen during the last pandemic that without active participation of local bodies the state cannot handle emergent issues at the ground level,” the commission has observed in its report.