Palakkad: The temperature recorded here this month has crossed the previous records, according to the scientists of the Indian Rural Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC) here.
The temperature on Saturday last was near 40 degrees Celsius which unusual so early in March, they said.
"If there are no summer rains in April and May, the heat will soar. The India Meteorological Department has warned that the temperatures could go up by 1 or 2 degrees Celsius this year," Mr R. Sathish, scientist at IRTC here, said.
The state is staring at a harsh summer and great care was needed in the management and use of water, including groundwater, especially in the agriculture sector, he said.
However, he ruled out the possibility of the heat rising by up to 5 to 8 degrees.
"The borewell industry mushrooms during the summer. As per the Act passed by the state government in 2003, permission from the civic body is necessary for sinking a borewell. But the Act was not implemented strictly and as a result the groundwater levels are dipping alarmingly. People sink borewells up to 500 to 600 feet at some place in Palakkad. At Kozhipara near Vadakarapathi here, a borewell for agriculture purpose has been sunk up at 900 feet to get water," he added.
