Waterlogging affects over 200 acres farmland in M'luru

At a time when paddy fields are dwindling in Dakshina Kannada district, about 200 acres of farmland in Harekala-Pavoor villages in Mangaluru taluk have been left fallow, due to marooning of farmland.

The paddy fields remain marooned till February, as a result of which, the farmers cannot take up farming activities on their land.

Speaking to DH, Manohar Shetty N, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Hasiru Sene organising secretary, said, the farmers in the region have been facing the problem for the last one decade.

“In fact, the farmers in the district were cultivating three crops in a year and farming was the source of livelihood in the region. Along with paddy, they used to cultivate sugarcane, urad dal, green gram and the famed Harekala chilly. As the water remains stagnant in farmland till February, farmers are left with no option but to leave the field fallow,” Shetty said.

Petition to DC

“We had submitted petition urging the deputy commissioner to initiate measures to remove the silt from the water body that flows in the region. Accordingly, then Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim had directed agriculture department to look into the issue,” said Shetty.

“The two villages are situated on the banks of Nethravathi river. When Nethravathi river floods, the area gets submerged in water. At the same time, the water from hilly ranges flows to the water body during monsoon, carrying soil along with the water. When the water level increases in the river, the level in water body that flows beside the farmland also increases and submerges paddy fields.

“To set right the problem, the silt from water body (like stormwater drains) that passes through the region needs to be removed. Retaining walls should be constructed to prevent the intrusion of water to the farmland,” Shetty demanded.

In spite of the then DC urging the Minor Irrigation Department to look into the issue and desilt the drains, the authorities concerned have not initiated any measures to far. Even the Zilla Panchayat member too has failed in this regard, he said.

Making suitable

“If the silt is removed in the water body, the farmland can be made suitable for cultivation. Farmers are ready to take up agriculture activities, if the problem of waterlogging is solved,” said farmers in the village.

In spite of submitting a memorandum to Minister U T Khader, who has been representing the constituency for the last several years, no measures have been taken to set right the problem.

Schoolchildren walk beside these marooned fields, which pose threat to their lives. Although a road was laid at Sampigedadi in Harekala, the lack of a stormwater drain has made all the rainwater enter the paddy fields adjacent to the road. If the silt is removed and proper drains are constructed, then rainwater can easily flow into River Nethravathi, he said.

Instead of farming, the children engage in catching “Mugudu” fish from these flooded paddy fields during free-time, said the farmers.