Chegannur now in the grip of drought

Alappuzha: Chengannur block panchayat, which was hit by the floods in August last, is in the grip of drought with the mercury rising and ponds and wells drying up.

The farm ponds constructed  under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREG) scheme have been filled up with silt post-flood.  The block panchayat had earlier constructed 160 farm ponds in eight panchayats  to fight drought.  

Venmony panchayat  is the worst-affected as 69 ponds have vanished. The next come  Budhanoor (27)  and Puliyoor (26).    G. Vivek, vice-president of the block panchayat, said water kiosks would be set up in every institution in the area  farm ponds would be restored.  

The farmers in  Chengannur  mostly cultivate betals,  plantains, vegetables  and paddy that require continuous water supply.  Currently the Pampa irrigation project provides  water on alternate  days to irrigate the crops. If the water level goes  down further,  the water woes in the area would worsen," he said.     K. Anil, a farmer from Pandanad, said that if the  farmers do not get  enough water, they would suspend cultivation.  Karthika Anil, accredited engineer, MGNREG,  Chengannur block panchayat,  said  the  floods  had changed the demography of  Chengannur. "All water streams have vanished and paddy fields are filled up with silt. This is the time the farmers need more water," she  said.

 The  farm ponds help  retain  water in the paddy fields and ensure  irrigation. "We have reclaimed eight farm ponds in  Chengannur area and  at least 35 ponds and water streams are being reclaimed. The wells have become dry and crops have been damaged,"  she said.