Executive Summary:
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 695 regarding saline intrusion into South Goa agricultural lands, specifically addressing the protection of Khazan agriculture. It outlines the roles of both the Central and State Governments, emphasizing that repair and maintenance of water control systems are primarily the responsibility of the State Government of Goa. The response also clarifies the mandates of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) and the State Ground Water Authority.
Key Points / Main Content:
State Government Responsibilities:
* The Soil Conservation Division, Directorate of Agriculture, Government of Goa, is responsible for repairs, maintenance, and remodeling of notified Khazan bunds to protect Khazan lands, in accordance with the Agriculture Tenancy Act 1964 and Rules 1965.
* After repair, the Revenue Department administers the bunds and hands them over to Taluk Mamlatdars, who then pass them to tenant associations.
* Tenant associations are jointly responsible for the periodic maintenance of the bunds.
* The State Government of Goa reported that the bunds at Neura are in good condition, while the tender for the bund at Marcaim is under consideration by the Goa State Works Board.
Central Government Role and CGWA Mandate:
* The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) primarily regulates groundwater abstraction through No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
* The CGWA stipulates conditions for groundwater quality monitoring during NOC issuance to ensure sustainable practices.
* The State Ground Water Authority is the primary regulatory body for groundwater management within Goa.
* The Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments for sustainable development and efficient water resource management through various schemes. Central funding for specific projects depends on statutory clearances, scheme guidelines, fund availability, and scheme scope. No such proposal for central funding has been received.
Impact Analysis:
State Government of Goa:
* Impact: Responsible for the repair, maintenance, and remodeling of Khazan bunds and overall water resource management within the state.
* Action Required: Continue to carry out repairs and maintenance of Khazan bunds through the Soil Conservation Division and adhere to the Agriculture Tenancy Act 1964 and Rules 1965.
Tenant Associations:
* Impact: Jointly responsible for maintaining Khazan bunds after repairs.
* Action Required: Undertake periodic maintenance of the bunds in good condition, as per the Agriculture Tenancy Act.
Farmers in Marcaim and Neura:
* Impact: Directly affected by the condition of Khazan bunds and saline intrusion into agricultural lands.
* Action Required: Coordinate with tenant associations and relevant government departments to report issues and participate in maintenance efforts.
Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA):
* Impact: Responsible for regulating groundwater abstraction through NOCs and setting groundwater quality monitoring conditions.
* Action Required: Continue to regulate groundwater abstraction and enforce groundwater quality monitoring conditions within its mandate.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Indian government ministry responsible for water resources and Ganga rejuvenation.
South Goa: A district in the state of Goa, India, facing saline intrusion into agricultural lands.
SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES: Member of Parliament who raised the question regarding saline intrusion in South Goa.
Water Resources Department WRD: The department responsible for water resource management, whose works are subject to audit.
Goa State Research Board GSRB: A research board in Goa that the government is asked to direct to install real-time water quality sensors.
Central Ground Water Authority CGWA: An authority that the government is asked to direct to install real-time water quality sensors and regulate groundwater abstraction.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana PMKSY: An irrigation scheme to enable climate-resilient coastal farming.
Goa: A state in India where khazan lands are located and affected by saline intrusion.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 695
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
SALINE INTRUSION INTO SOUTH GOA AGRICULTURAL LANDS
695. SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to repair, rebuild or upgrade the centuryold water control
systems to protect khazan agriculture in light of repeated saline inundation reported by farmers in Marcaim
and Neura despite the presence of bundh and saltgate infrastructure;
(b) whether the Government proposes to commission independent audits of the Water Resources
Department (WRD) works and sanction corrective funding to address systemic issues considering that Rs.
9 crore were spent on repairing Neura bundhs but saline ingress continues due to defective sluice gates and
if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government would direct the Goa State Research Board (GSRB) or the Central Ground
Water Authority (CGWA) to install real-time water quality sensors and ensure accountability of gate-
maintaining committees due to recurring failures in sluice gate management during high tides leading to
groundwater contamination in wells and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to support community-led maintenance through grants for khazan
tenant associations, fund technical training and link irrigation modernization measures (such as sluice gate
automation) with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee
Yojana (PMKSY) to enable climate-resilient coastal farming and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b) Repair, rebuild or upgrading of water control system comes under the purview of concerned
State Government. As informed by the State Government of Goa, Soil Conservation Division, Directorate
of Agriculture, Government of Goa is entrusted to carry out the works of repairs/maintenance and
remodeling of notified khazan bunds so as to protect the conservancy of khazan lands of the State. The
works on khazan bunds are carried out under Agriculture Tenancy Act 1964 and Rules 1965 in force as
per specified patterns of assistance.
The role of Soil Conversation Division is to carry out repairs/strengthening of khazan bund, which is
administered by Revenue Department and hand it over to respective Taluk Mamlatdars, which in turn is
handed over to tenant association by Taluk Mamlatdars. Once the repaired bund is handed over to the
1tenant association, it is joint duty of tenants to maintain it in good condition by taking up periodic
maintenance works as and when required, as per the aforesaid Act.
State Government of Goa has further informed that, the bunds at Neura are in good condition
whereas bund at Marcaim has been tendered and tender of the same has been referred to Goa State Works
Board for consideration.
(c) Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) mandate primarily focuses on regulating groundwater
abstraction through No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for various projects. While issuing NOCs, CGWA
stipulates conditions for groundwater quality monitoring to ensure sustainable practices. It is pertinent to
mention that in Goa, the State Ground Water Authority, is the primary regulatory body for groundwater
management within the state.
(d) Water, being a state subject; extension, renovation, modernisation and operation and maintenance of
water resources projects are under the mandate of concerned State Governments. However, in order to
supplement their efforts, Government of India provides technical and financial assistance to State
Governments to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources under
various ongoing schemes. No such proposal for central funding has been received in this Department.
Inclusion of a project for central funding, however, depends on various statutory clearances, fulfilment of
criteria laid down in scheme guidelines, availability of funds, scope of the scheme etc.
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