Acute shortage of water in the land of Cauvery

CMC is supplying water to citizens through tankers

Though river Cauvery takes its birth in Kodagu district, the district is facing severe water crisis. Failure of pre monsoon showers has resulted in the depleting of water sources.

The coffee plants have started drying because of  poor moisture content. Though the district has Cauvery, Lakshmanatheertha, Hemavathi, Kannike, Harangi, Hattihole, Barapole rivers, the people in
the region continue to suffer from acute shortage of water during summer.

Kodagu is known as the Kashmir of South India and is known for its pleasant weather. However, the mercury level is on rise and has reached 32 degree celsius. With the increase in temperature, the moisture content had reduced and there has been decrease in the water-level.

The borewells and the wells have gone dry in majority of the places in the district.

The ghost of drinking water shortage has started haunting the citizens of Madikeri yet again. Kootuhole reservoir, located on the outskirts of the city, which caters to a majority of the needs of the citizens has dried up.  Water is being supplied through tankers to the citizens by the CMC.

“There was no shortage of water last year. The CMC has started supplying water through tankers from March itself. A sum of Rs 30 lakh has been earmarked for supplying water through tankers,” said CMC President H M Nandakumar.

The situation in Somwarpet, Virajpet, Napoklu, Kushalnagar, Ponnampet, Kutta, Thithimathi, Palibetta, Hathoor and Hudikeri is not different from Madikeri.

The tribals from in and around Siddapura are also suffering from scarcity of water.

Owing to erratic supply of power, water can not be filled to water tanks for supplying water to the citizens.  

With lack of rainfall and decrease in moisture content, the flowers in the coffee plants has started withering.

The coffee planters have started using sprinklers to irrigate the coffee and to save the crop.