Cauvery crisis: Cauvery's birthplace Kodagu stares at drought

BENGALURU: Amid the internecine water war between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing of the Cauvery waters, Kodagu district Cauvery's birthplace -is staring at an unprecedented water crisis. While there have been instances in the past of individual taluks in Kodagu being declared drought-hit, this might be the first time when the entire district could be declared so. Sources confirmed that all three taluks of Kodagu were included on the list of drought-hit taluks being compiled by the Karnataka government. "If the current rainfall fails to overcome the deficit, the coffee district may be declared drought-hit.All three taluks have suffered a shortfall in rain, ranging from 2240%, as on September 12," said a senior district official.

Data from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) indicated that Kodagu had received 1449.72mm rainfall between June 1 and September 12, against the normal 2219.20mm - a negative departure of 35-48%. Absence of irrigation projects have only added to the woes of the people of Kodagu. Although other coastal and Malnad districts have also registered deficit in rainfall, efficient irrigation projects implemented in those areas have mitigated the extent of loss, said an official from the water resources department.

"Water is essential in the summer months to protect our coffee plantations from heat. Rain is all the more important in Kodagu, where large number of people rely on wells, borewells and lakes for drinking water," said KN Chitiappa, an office-bearer.

A government report points out that, of the total 790tmcft yield in the Cauvery basin, Kodagu alone accounts for 400tmcft. Although a reservoir was built across the Harangi River at Hudgur village in Somwarpet taluk in the 1980s, it has been of little service for the people of Kodagu.While the Harangi Reservoir can fulfil the irrigation needs of 54,591 hectares in total, in Kodagu, a mere 607 hectares have benefited.

A senior MLA said, "The reasons for neglecting irrigation in the district is on account of Kodagu not having much political clout. The district is represented by just two MLAs in the assembly ."