Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 7: This is an inspiring story of villagers in Moodbidri who rejuvenated canal and dam in an effort to rejuvenate the agricultural fields in some villages which have dried up. With the wholehearted efforts of these villagers, farmers from the village have got the gift of water for their parched fields.

Since the last some decades, farmers living in Paladka and surrounding villages where farming was the prime occupation earlier, were moving away from agriculture because of water scarcity. Priest of Paladka church, Fr Ivan Michael Rodrigues, brought together local people's representatives and mooted the idea of inspiring these farmers to take to cultivation again. With the interest evinced by him, Arbikatte dam in Erugundi area and canals thereto have been given a face lift in an effort to successfully get the water to percolate into the land and make it cultivable again.

Initially, a committee was formed for repairing of Arbikatte dam and canals, headed by Fr Mchael Rodrigues with some villagers from Paladka and members of local panchayats as its members. Three meetings convened by the committee were attended by over a hundred villagers, which speaks volumes about their enthusiasm towards the committee's programme. The work was initiated on September 28, with the participation of more than 100 villagers as volunteers. The work, which could othrrwise take about three months to complete, was finished within 11 days.

The canals were de-silted, and the Arbikate dam was fortified with areca nut logs, tarpaulin etc with the help of which the water got stored and percolated down. The work was completed without any problem with the support of donors and organizations like Indian Catholic Youth Movement for the manual work contributed by villagers. The dam at Arbikatte, which has a history of about 300 years, had fallen useless since the last 12 years. The work done by the villagers, besides benefitting Paladka and Puthige gram panchayat residents, will also be helpful to the people of Kallamundkur village. The amazing result of this initiative are already visible, and a dried up borewell in the house of a farmer has got new lease of life. Water level in wells around the dam has gone up. Because of this dam, water problem, which has been a regular feature during summer, will get addressed at least partly during this year.

However, for the dam to be of use for the people for long, government grant would be very much necessary and regular maintenance will continuously benefit the people. The activity has also exemplified religious harmony, as Hindus and Christians worked hand in hand in the development initiative undertaken by St Ignatius Loyola church Paladka. Elected representatives of panchayats also joined hands in this task.

Priest of Paladka church and brain behind this initiative, Fr Ivan Michael Rodrigues, explained that the idea he got was placed before the villagers, after which it became a project. "With hard work of people and help from donors, dam and canals were given fresh lease of life. MLA, K Abhay Chandra Jain, former minister, Amarnath Shetty, and Sucharita Shetty have supported this initiative. If the government extends grants, this can turn into a perpetual project," he felt.

Member of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, K P Sucharita Shetty, said that he has raised the topic of the need to improve this dam in the zilla panchayat meeting. Hailing the villagers for being role models by voluntarily working for the benefit of others. he stated that the local MLA has promised to undertake spot visit and put in effort to get grant from the government for this dam.