The Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation in association with three-tier local bodies in Wayanad district will launch a project worth ₹80.2 crore in three grama panchayats on the Kerala-Karnataka border to mitigate desertification.
The region on the northeastern tip of the Deccan Plateau under the Pulpally, Mullankolly, and Poothadi gram panchayats has been facing desertification for two decades, P.U. Das, district soil conservation officer said. A sharp decline in rainfall, loss of organic matter in soil, excess surface run-off, unscientific land use, conversion of wetlands and shortage in canopy were the major reasons, Mr. Das said. Hot wind from Karnataka after the massive destruction of bamboo groves a decade ago had wreaked havoc on cash crops, he said.
The project covers 15,220 hectares and 36 types of works will be executed under the integrated project to tackle desertification, Justin Mohan, director, department of soil survey and soil conservation, said.
The State government had allotted ₹5 crore and the three-tier local bodies have earmarked ₹1.5 crore for the first phase works, Mr. Justin said. Afforestation, rainwater harvest projects, fodder cultivation, construction of dams across rivulets of the Kabani and restoration of its tributaries, are among the programmes.
As many as 1,000 open and borewells would be recharged in a year and 90% of the cost to install a rainwater harvesting unit would be provided to the villagers as subsidy, Mr. Das said.
Green belt
A 12-km green belt would be erected on farmers’ land to ward off the hot wind. Two-year-old saplings of indigenous species would be planted. For each plant, ₹50 would be given to the farmer for three years as maintenance cost. As many as 50,000 saplings would be planted. I.C. Balakrishnan, MLA, will inaugurate the project on Monday.