The Hindu : Front Page : Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri districts in the grip of water scarcity

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Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
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Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri districts in the grip of water scarcity

S. Prasad

Farmers want long-term measures to address water shortage

DROUGHT-PRONE: With tanks and wells going dry, severe water shortage is expected in the first week of March. - Photo: N. Bashkaran

Dharmapuri: Insufficient rainfall from the south-west and north-east monsoons has pushed Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts closer to a drought-like situation. This is happening despite Tamil Nadu having received normal rainfall in 2006.

According to statistics available with the department of agriculture, Dharmapuri district has received 750.3 mm rainfall in 2006 as against the normal rainfall of 879.1 mm.

Krishnagiri district has received 535.97 mm rainfall as against the normal rainfall of 830.3 mm. Pennagaram, Palacode and Pappireddipatti taluks in Dharmapuri district have received deficient rainfall. Pennagaram has received 481 mm as against the normal rainfall of 866 mm.Palacode and Pappireddipatti received 770 mm and 784 mm as against the normal rainfall of 926 mm and 968 mm respectively.

With tanks and wells going dry in Pennagaram and Pappireddipatti severe water shortage is expected in the first week of March, according to sources in the department of agriculture.

Since agriculture in the two districts is totally dependent on irrigation from wells and tanks, farmers are demanding the Government take up long-term measures to address water shortage. The surplus water from supply channels should be linked to tanks and other water bodies to improve the ground water level, they say.

The Government should announce Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts as drought-hit and provide relief to affected farmers, says Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam president, S.A. Chinnasamy.

Farmers are unable to obtain loans from banks for digging and deepening of irrigation wells. The Government should disburse loans to farmers to begin agricultural activities, he said.

The Communist Party of India State secretary, Deva Perinban, says more than two-thirds of dry-land farming in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts is affected because of shortage in rainfall.

As a result, a drought-like situation, which prevailed in the districts during 2002-04, still continues. There is a possibility of mass migration and scarcity in drinking water and fodder,he says.

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