50 years of severe drought in Pavagada, where even landlords work as labourers

Strange as it may seem, a border taluk in the Tumakuru district has been continuously experiencing drought for 50 long years. The region with boulders and dry hillocks that records over 40 degree Celsius during summer has not received sufficient rains for the past 50 years. Y N Hosakote, Nidagal, Nagalamadike and Kasaba Hoblis make up this taluk. For the past 50 years scanty rains have consistently failed crops here and even land lords go to coolie, reported Kannada Prabha.

Pavagada is known for its barren lands, boulders and dry weather. Dry fields resembling cremation grounds are everywhere. Green is absent throughout. The farmers attempt to grow ground nut but not even a single crop has been full. Since all tanks, ponds, wells are dry even big land lords also have given up agriculture.

Since the borewells are all dry, even drinking water is a huge problem. There are around 80 drinking water sources and they too are contaminated with excess fluoride content. Farmers are migrating to Andhra Pradesh in search of menial jobs like tying flowers, selling fruits and even coolie.  

All the assured projects to provide drinking water to this region is going at snail’s pace. T K Tippurao, Pavagada tahsildar says lack of rain has caused drought situation since 50 years and inevitably farmers are going to coolie and other works.

• Drought since 50 years in Pavagada
• Farmers are migrating to Andhra
• Tumkur drought
• Bengaluru floods
• Karnataka