Kerala has been officially declared a drought-affected area after successive monsoon failures during the current water year.
The State Disaster Management Authority met here on Wednesday before taking the call.
POOR RAIN
This came after a review of rainfall received during the two monsoons as also field-level reports.
Both rang alarm bells in respect of impending crop loss and drinking water crisis, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash told newspersons while briefing them on proceedings at the meeting.
The State Government has introduced a pilot project for insuring crops such as pepper, paddy, and cashew in four districts.
It would consider extending this scheme to more crops across the State since prevailing conditions suggested that drought conditions may extend to more areas.
The Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment would monitor the evolving conditions and advise the Government in advance about steps to be initiated.
MINISTER IN CHARGE
Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Authority decided to put each district under the charge of a Minister to immediately assess the ground-level situation.
The Minister would be responsible for deciding steps to lessen the intensity of the crisis that was expected to become severe in the summer months.
District-level review meetings would be convened before December 31, Prakash said.
In the meantime, people’s representatives would work in tandem to coordinate drought-management efforts in his or her constituency.
Pumps in a state of disrepair would be reworked to working conditions at drinking water pumping stations. Debottlenecking of pipes carrying irrigation water would be ensured.
Should there be need to lay additional pipelines to sustain drinking water supply to affected areas, it would also be attended to expeditiously.
Temporary dams would be put up across rivers or streams with scope for holding water for drinking water schemes.