Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (SJM)

Madikeri, Sep 16: Out of five, four taluks have been included in the drought affected list by the state government.

The four taluks include Madikeri, Virajpet and Kushalnagar which have been declared as drought-hit taluks. Whereas, Somwarpet is considered as the moderately drought-hit taluk. Ponnampet taluk is facing severe drought as there is deficit rainfall in this region, but this taluk has not been declared under the drought hit list by the state government.

Though these districts received moderate rainfall from the past few days that is not sufficient to carry out the cultivation of crops. However, the transplantation season has already come to an end, but in most of the places, the transplantation has been carried out. Due to insufficient rainfall crops like maize, paddy and pepper are drying up.

Owing to the deficit rainfall, several farmers have shifted to an irrigation method. They started pumping water from the bore wells to keep their farms hydrated. But as per the report stated by the Kodagu District Groundwater Wing’s additional in- charge senior geologist K G Sowmya, the groundwater level of wells has reduced by 0.70 metres and similar decline is being observed in bore wells too.

Taluks such as Madikeri, Somwarpet, Virajpet and Ponnampet have been seriously affected by the scanty rainfall. Usually in August the district receives rainfall for at least 22 days. But this year, the district received rainfall for only 8 days. As a result, this year, 30% of deficit rainfall is seen in Madikeri, 38% deficit rainfall in Somwarpet, 57% deficit rainfall in Virajpet, whereas 53% deficit rainfall is being observed in Ponnampet taluk.

However, the government has not yet issued any guidelines with regard to the use of drought relief funds. After the declaration, the funds provided can be used by the farmers for many other purposes such as sinking of tube wells, water supply through tankers and many more.