Amboori: At Pezhumkola, Panthaplamood and Thekke Pantha stretches of the Neyyar dam, drought is staring the local farmers and residents on their face. The major source of drinking and irrigation waters for this region, the drying up has set off worries among the farmers of an imminent decline in the quantity of water available for agriculture.
In the dam, built primarily for irrigation purposes, there is a mere 63.581 million cubic meters of water instead of the 97 million cubic meters that was present last year. The maximum storage capacity is 106.2 million cubic meters and water level is 84.75 meters.
A E Vinod, irrigation officer, Neyyar pointed to the gravity of the situation by pointing out that the current water level, even though very low is still being maintained by keeping the shutters closed. The lack of desilting mechanisms have also affected the dam depth making the problem worse.
The Kalippara drinking water project, that will need 36 million litres of water in its full capacity already draws 20 million litres from the dam everyday. This project supplies water to panchayats and municipalities at Kattakada and Neyyattinkara.
With the fall in water level, the boating services will also have to be wound up. Hectares of agricultural land is under threat of drying up of desertification if the situation continues.
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