Udupi: Scanty Monsoon-Farmers in trouble-Fear of scarcity of water looms large

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 06 Jul: By this time of the year, that is first week of July, farmers should have practically completed their farming activities especially transplanting of paddy saplings. However, this year, there has been an unusual situation. With scanty monsoon, farmers are left high and dry not knowing when they would get sufficient rains so that they may complete their farming activities. Though clouds could be seen in the sky, they bring in limited quantum of rainwater and after pouring for a while the weather would clear with bright sunshine.

 

By this time of the year, the Papanashini River passing through Moodubelle should have witnessed at least one or two major floods. However, this year the river looks quite empty with clear water rather than muddy flowing rain water.

 

 

Some farmers have managed to plough their  fields and have transplanted the paddy saplings. Some of them have to depend upon river water pumped into their fields.

 

With the scanty monsoon, especially in coastal Karnataka, farmers are not only in trouble, but there is a fear of scarcity of water by the end of the year. The lakes and wells which should have filled to the brim contain only one-third of their capacity. This indicates the scarcity of water that people would have to face in the near future.

 

It is ironic that while mega city Mumbai suffered due to excessive rain few days ago the coastal Karnataka is yet to experience the normal monsoon.