Kozhikode: The border regions of the district bordering Karnataka are suffering from the effects of a heat wave. The local administration is planning to launch drinking water distribution by the first week of March. The hot winds blowing from the Deccan Plateau is causing temperatures in the region to soar affecting crops. Though there were plans to grow a green shield of bamboo and other indigenous tree varieties along the banks of River Kabani to stop the hot winds from Deccan, the more than a decade-old plan is still on paper.
However, farmers are a worried lot over the increasing temperature because almost one month is left before summer rains. KR Satheesam a farmer of Pulppalli told DC that though the heat was going up, all the water sources had not dried up so far. “Last year by February we had to rely on water distributed by the local bodies”, he added. Nevertheless alarmed by the situation, the district administration issued a ban on digging tube-wells in the district. District collector S Suhas directed revenue officials to ensure that the 150 drinking water kiosks set up in drought- prone regions last year were catering to the needy.
The local bodies can inform the tahsildars if drinking water to be distributed at any spot. The Soil conservation department has been conducting various drought reduction measures spending '5 crore in Pulppalli and Mullankolly panchayats. 1500 wells have been recharged and more check-dams are included in the project.
