Kerala: Water scarcity in high range villages
The localites pointed out that it was for the first time the region was facing such a situation.
KOZHIKODE: The agrarian panchayat of Tiruvambadi is facing a severe drought and drinking water shortage. The Eruvanji river which is the lifeline of the panchayat has almost dried up. River Chalippuzha in Kodanchery and the famous Thusharagiri waterfalls have thinned down to a water line.
The localites pointed out that it was for the first time the region was facing such a situation. Even on river banks, wells have dried up. The nutmeg plants aged three to four years have almost charred under the sun. The Tiruvambadi village panchayat and Tiruvambadi service cooperative bank have started drinking water supply in tankers.
Women with vessels waiting for the water tanker were found along the road to Tiruvambadi. Shobana, a housewife at Thondimill mukku, told DC that they received only three buckets of water every two days. “We depend on a check-dam a few km away for washing clothes and bathing. This year even pipe-wells got dried up,” she added.
Unscientific constructions and power projects have almost killed the Chalippuzha, said Isaac Thomas, a farmer in the locality. Two power projects are underway upstream blocking the flow of the stream, he added.
Tiruvambadi panchayat president P.A. Augustine told DC that the drought was unprecedented. “We never expected such a drought and are trying to ensure drinking water at all places facing acute shortage,” he added.