Thrissur, Palakkad prepare for worst summer

THRISSUR: Both Thrissur and Palakkad districts are bracing for the  worst summer in  recent years. The shutters of Malampuzha dam in Palakkad was opened two weeks earlier than usual in the third week of March this year  for  the drinking water projects at Desamangalam, Cheruthuruthi, Panjal, Pallam, Mecherikunnu in Thirssur situated on the banks of Bharathapuzha  river and at Chelakkara, Ottapalam, Mayannur regions in Palakkad.

In Palakakd, the water from the dam is also used for ‘Punja’ (paddy) cultivation. But the officials concerned at the project site said that even after the water was released, the quantity  available was  too less and after two weeks from now, the wells on the river bed  would  dry up and pumping will have to be stopped. The shutters of the dam will  be raised further in April, it is learnt.

Ms Indira Devi of Kerala Agriculture University in Mannuthy here said that a study conducted linking drought and social economic factors at the university in 2015 had found that Thrissur would be the worst affected district in the state considering social factors like the number of marginal farmers, BPL families and environmental reasons like less forest cover and reclaimed wetlands.

“A study done by my department, Centre of Excellence in Environmental Economics, two months ago had found that the funds spent by local bodies for supplying potable water during summer was  far more than what is needed for preserving wetlands and paddyfields to conserve water  to overcome drought,” she noted.