Shortage of rain triggers fear of drought

The scanty rainfall in the district has given rise to a fear of drought in the district. The district was, once, known for its heavy rainfall. Rivers like Tunga, Bhadra, Hemavathi, Vedavathi and Yagachi were flowing throughout and keeping the region green.

With a decline in rainfall, the water flowing in the rivers have reduced drastically. Chikkamagaluru’s water woes will only worsen if the decline in groundwater resource is anything to go by.

Comparison

The noticeable drop in the water table may be blamed on the poor monsoon. Compared to last year, the district has received 15.16% less rainfall this year. The normal average rainfall in the district is 190.4 cm. This year, no taluk has received normal rainfall. On an average, Sringeri and Mudigere taluks, situated on the periphery of Western Ghats, were receiving the highest 365.9 cm rainfall in a year, while Kadur taluk used to get 60.36 cm rainfall. This year, however, the district did not receive heavy rainfall like the Malnad.

Growers of various horticulture and agriculture crops worry about losing yield. “There was a delay in the onset of monsoon. We were expecting good rainfall in July and August, but there were no sufficient rains. Even farmers in Kadur who had borewells could not provide water for their crops,” said the farmers.

Drought tag

The state government has already declared Kadur, Chikkamagaluru, Mudigere, NR Pura and Koppa taluks as drought-hit, however, the representatives and the farmers organisations are demanding that the entire district be declared drought-hit.

Majority of the borewells have gone dry in the plateau. The local bodies have already started supplying tanker water in several villages of Lakya and Ambale hoblis. Coffee, cardamom, black pepper, arecanut, and onion crops have started withering.