Krishi Setu is a perfect example of a man-made corridor to connect an agroecosystem patch, the 30 hectares of Khazan lands
It was nice talking to the sarpanch of the Cumbarjua village panchayat Nandakumar Shet who told me that 65 farmer families of his village had been patiently waiting for the new bridge named Krishi Setu to be completed and assured me that they are determined to plow their 30 hectares of farms and take help of agriculture and water resources departments for the first monsoon crops. For these 65 hard-working families, the seven years of waiting is over. GSIDC needs to be congratulated, and its team led by a humble general manager, Sandip Chodanekar, needs to be felicitated for such an aesthetically pleasant single-span arched bridge.
People have forgotten that Kumardweep was the ancient name of the modern Cumbarjua island found in a copper plate inscription without specifying whether the name was given for the settlement of potters or ‘Kumbhars’ or to commemorate some royal figure. This ecologically fragile low-lying island is a gift of the silt deposited in the flood plain of Mandovi river. The Cumbarjua Canal is the island landscape’s lifeline navigational and drainage corridor. Many farmers in Cumbarjua cultivate their khazan lands across the canal and these survey numbers and farms fall within the jurisdiction of the village panchayat of St Estevam or the island of Juvem a very beautiful and scenic island scape on this planet.
It is shocking to see the ecological tragedy of the vast uncultivated and partially flooded khazan farms of St Estevam. If the farmers of Juvem don’t show interest like the 65 families in Cumbarjua, these are likely to be sold out to the builders and real estate developers in the future. The 30-hectare Khazan landscape patch lies at the tail end of St Estevam revenue boundary. Any land use change and land reclamation from hinterland Juvem would endanger the tail-end farms of the Cumbarjua farmers who have been petitioning the government since 2016-17 to construct a bridge over the canal to give them and their farm machinery access to the other side.
On Saturday, February 23, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant inaugurated the iconic, well-designed single-span semicircular arched bridge named ‘Krishi Setu’ or a ‘Farming Bridge,’ and, in his spontaneous appeal to the assembled farmers, expressed the need to cultivate multiple crops and utilise the bridge location to promote sustainable tourism activities. The GSIDC was instrumental in constructing Atal Setu, Dnyan Setu, Yoga Setu which have served the purpose for which these were built. The Yoga Setu project had faced stiff opposition, but more than a million tourists have already visited it, contributing handsomely to the capital city’s economy. Krishi Setu is a perfect example of a man-made corridor to connect an agroecosystem patch, the 30 hectares of Khazan lands. The project was conceived in 2017, followed by the ex-MLA Pandurang Madkaikar, and completed after the government received the green signal from the court. As the chairman of GSIDC, CM Sawant took active interest to get it speedily completed before the onset of the monsoon.
Originally the bridge was supposed to be completed in four months but took about a year. But it was worth waiting for. The Krishi Setu stands proud when you view it standing like a rainbow, stretching across the picturesque landscape, a testament to connectivity and progress. Spanning 50 metres in length and 3.5 metres in width, this engineering marvel gracefully arches over the Cumbarjua canal tributary, linking the Cumbarjua Village with Jua Village. Its significance? Fulfilling the heartfelt plea of farmers to access their fields with ease. Designed to accommodate both pedestrians and tractor traffic, the Krishi Setu embodies resilience and functionality. Crafted as a through-type, arched basket bridge with composite steel-concrete construction, its strength lies in every meticulously placed element. Supported by pile foundations and meticulously engineered to bear IRC Class 9R loading, this bridge is built to last. But it’s not just about practicality; the Krishi Setu is a beacon of innovation. Equipped with POT PTFE bearings and strip seal expansion joints, it ensures smooth passage and minimal wear over time. Its 3-metre-wide clear carriageway provides ample space for tractor traffic tailored to the needs of the community it serves. Yet, functionality doesn’t compromise aesthetics. Adorned with a sleek M35 concrete screed-wearing coat, finished with vacuum dewatering and floor hardener, the Krishi Setu is as visually appealing as it is robust. Every inch is a canvas painted to celebrate and honour the farming profession that sustains communities. In a nod to sustainability, the Krishi Setu embraces renewable energy with solar-powered lighting, illuminating its path even under the darkest of nights. Completed at approximately Rs three crore, with consultancy by Madhav Kamat and associates, and constructed by the esteemed KVJ builders and developers, this bridge stands as a symbol of collaboration and progress—a lifeline for future generations. What Krishi Setu signifies is the will of the government to find the funds to create such essential infrastructure if the needs are genuine and legitimate.
When we compare the Krishi Setu to the incomplete RCC bridge ending nowhere in thick mangrove forests in the flooded Khazan farms of Dongrim along the same Cumbarjua canal, we see the stark contrast in planning, design, and execution of similar projects aimed at the welfare of the farmers. The GSIDC needs to do something about the incomplete Dongrim Krushi Setu and prepare a long-term integrated project for strengthening all the external embankments along the Cumbarjua canal from Banastarim to Madkaiam and Corlim to Agacaim. I have advised Chodanekar of GSIDC and sarpanch Shet to take care of the maintenance of Krishi Setu, constitute a supervisory committee of local stakeholders, erect signboards warning visitors against misuse of the bridge decks, fix Krishi Setu visitor charges and arrive at a revenue sharing model because, in future, the bridge would attract rich picknickers, selfie lovers, photographers, film producers, bird and crocodile watchers, anglers, bikers and all sorts of tourists interested in such scenic monument.
There is no use complaining after the villager discovers trash left behind by visitors or misuse of the Krishi Setu and secluded farms across. But the final decision of practical, disciplined, and planned use of Krushi Setu, its security and maintenance would lie in the hands of the beneficiary farmers and the village panchayat and the gram sabha members of Cumbarjua, a village known for vibrant cultural and religious traditions. As CM Sawant hoped the farmers would earn more than Rs three crore and the investment would be fully justified. He received loud applause, indicating the confidence and determination of the farmers present for the event. I promised sarpanch Shet that I would visit the green-cultivated farms during the monsoon. Goans should applaud the tenacity of farmers of Kumardwip to revitalise neglected farms of Juvem. Goans should thank GSIDC for gifting an iconic monument to Cumbarjua and St Estevam.
(Dr Nandkumar M Kamat has a doctorate in microbiology, is a scientist and science writer)