Rice farmers in Bansai, Curchorem, are grappling with devastating losses after continuous heavy rainfall combined with the unannounced opening of the Nanda Lake gates led to severe flooding of their fields. The entire expanse of farmland has been submerged, leaving seasonal rice crops destroyed and farmers in distress.

The estimated damage exceeds ₹1 lakh, affecting several families whose livelihoods depend solely on this monsoon-dependent harvest. According to local farmers, even if the rain subsides, the rice crop is beyond recovery — lodged, waterlogged, and mixed with mud — rendering it unfit for harvesting or regrowth.

“This is both a natural and administrative disaster,” said one affected farmer, further stating that the rains were relentless, and the sudden release of water from Nanda Lake without any prior warning or proper drainage management has made things worse.

Farmers are now appealing for immediate government intervention, including compensation for their losses and accountability for the lack of coordination in managing the lake overflow. They have also demanded that future water releases be better regulated and communicated to local communities to prevent such agricultural disasters.

With climate-related challenges becoming more frequent, local farmers emphasize the urgent need for responsive disaster management policies to protect their livelihoods from similar setbacks.

Source - https://www.heraldgoa.in