Vagaries of nature haunt Kodagu

The vagaries of nature have been haunting Kodagu district for the last four years.

The district had faced severe drought in the year 2016 and 2017 and heavy rain coupled with landslides and flood last year.

Furthermore, the untimely rain has affected the coffee growers. Poor production and slash in the price of crops have also become a challenge for the growers.

Though the district received heavy rain in August, the groundwater table has declined drastically in the district. Already, rivers, rivulets and lakes have gone dry.

Silt has filled Mukkodluhole, Devasthooruhole, Hattihole and Haradooruhole.

The residents feel that if the silt is not removed, then they will have to face floods in the monsoon.

Landslide-affected areas have seen a drastic fall in the groundwater table. All the stones that were withholding water were washed away in the landslides and flash flood. As a result, the sources of naturally available water have gone dry.

"If we fail to get rain in the months of February and March, we may have to face a severe water crisis," said the villagers.

With the silt filling the Harangi reservoir, the water level has declined drastically.

The farmers in the catchment areas are worried over safeguarding their crops.

During the heavy rain, the reservoir was filled to the brim and the water was released into the river. As a result, parts of Kushalnagar, Koodige, Koodumangaluru areas were inundated. Now the flooded villages are facing an acute shortage of water.