: The Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samiti has called upon the government to implement long-term eco-restoration projects to tackle the drought-like situation in the hill district.
N. Badusha, president of the Samiti, said the process of desertification had already begun in Mullankolly, Pulpally and Noolpuzha grama panchayats on the Kerala-Karnataka border, endangering the livelihood of the farming community. The process was gradually spreading to adjacent villages, he said.
Deforestation, extensive mining of sand and granite, mushrooming of resorts on the Banasura ,Chembra and Brahmagiri hills and mono-crop plantation such as teak and eucalyptus of the Forest Department were the major reasons for the process .
The government should announce a moratorium on sand- and granite-mining activities in the district as well as raise natural forests after felling the mono-crops planted on nearly 3,500 hectares, he said.
Since temporary measures such as construction of check-dams across the tributaries of the Kabani and supply of drinking water to the public would not solve the issue, the government should expedite measures to launch eco-restoration projects to rejuvenate the Kabani and its tributaries, he said.
The services of the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme can be utilised for the purpose, he added.
Moratorium sought on sand and granite-mining activities.
