Water scarcity in drought-hit Palakkad has worsened with the eastern and western regions of the district witnessing alarming depletion in groundwater level.
As per the Ground Water Authority, groundwater depletion is alarming and unprecedented.
While the Chittur- Vadakarapathy- Eruthempathy- Kozhinjampara belt in the eastern region recorded an average depletion of eight metres in groundwater table, the rate is five metres in the western region comprising Pattambi and Thrithala.
Because of the failed monsoons, groundwater recharge has not happened in these areas. The poor state of the Bharathapuzha and its feeder streams has also contributed to the grim situation in the western region.
In the eastern region, borewells beyond the permissible depths are the villain. It is estimated that Eruthempathy grama panchayat alone has 500 illegal borewells and Vadakarapathy 580.
While the rules stipulate a maximum depth of 160 ft, most borewells in the region are over 1,000 ft. The borewells have contributed to the drying up of the Bharthapuzha river basin months ahead of the summer months.
The district is facing acute drought despite it having three major rivers and more than a dozen reservoirs. The rainforests of Silent Valley and Parambikulam have also failed to minimise the impact of summer.
Paddy cultivation in the traditional rice bowls of Chittur taluk has been affected with the lack of irrigation water. The drought is almost complete in Alathur region.
Poor state of Malampuzha
The Malampuzha dam, the biggest irrigation dam in the State, which supplies drinking water to Palakkad town and six adjoining grama panchayats, has not much in stock to meet the requirements of the summer months. The badly affected municipalities are Ottappalam and Shoranur.
Among the dams, Kanjirapuzha, Mangalam, and Pothundy have witnessed a drastic fall in water level. The Walayar dam has dried up already. Last week, the Kerala Water Authority sought police protection for its 15 pumping stations in the district fearing attack from people facing acute drinking water shortage.
Normal functioning of the Ottappalam, Shoranur, Ongallur, and Vallapuzha drinking water schemes has been affected in the last two months.
Water scarcity is acute in in the 745 sq km stretch of the Attappady tribal belt.
