Thiruvananthapuram: The government on Thursday decided to declare the state as ‘drought-hit’ with the concurrence of the Election Commission. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
“We have requested the EC to permit us to declare the state as drought-hit because of the current heat wave conditions,” Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash told mediapersons after the meeting. The meeting decided to provide compensation to the families of people killed due to sun stroke after the declaration of heat wave conditions by the Indian Meteorological Department on Wednesday and Thursday. Such families would be given Rs 4 lakh each.
For those with more than 60 per cent sun stroke injuries, Rs 2 lakh each will be given from the State Disaster Response Fund. In case of deaths and injuries that occurred before the IMD declaration, the compensation would be provided from the CM’s disaster relief fund. Since it is not a cropping season, the agri crop loss is only in 1038 hectares.
The CM has written letters to the PM, Union home minister and Union agriculture minister requesting them to relax norms for declaring the state as drought-hit. Once the state is declared as drought-hit, it would get financial assistance on a 75-25 basis for crop loss, drinking water purpose, more funds at collectors’ disposal and debts will be restructured with one year moratorium.
However, if the state declares drought without following the guidelines, the bulk of the burden will have to be borne by the state exchequer. The meeting also discussed the relief measures to be undertaken following the heat wave conditions. “We have decided to set up ‘thaneer pandals’ or water kiosks at many places in all villages, municipalities and corporations till the scorching heatwave condition persists. These would be opened with the support of volunteers and NGOs. Butter milk, tender coconut and water will be supplied through such kiosks. KWA will cater potable drinking water free of cost to water kiosks which are permitted by the district administration,” said Dr Shekhar L. Kuriakose, member secretary, SDMA.
In view of the depleting water levels in Kollam’s Sasthamcotta lake, the meeting decided to get water from Thenmala reservoir. Water will be brought from Thenmala bank canal to Sasthamcotta pumping station through a 400- metre pipe. They have a capacity to pump 50 mld, he added.
All reservoirs barring Malampuzha are near normal or above normal. In view of ground water depletion in Malampuzha, water from the dam would be used only for drinking water purpose and not for irrigation.
