Palakkad district has marked the highest ever depletion in groundwater table, with a fall of 2.53m at Pudussery panchayat. Kanjikode industrial belt, which houses many water based industries, is located in the panchayat.

The fall in groundwater table across the district in April is alarming with a comparison of the data collected from the 67 groundwater monitoring stations of the state groundwater department in the district showing an alarming difference in the ground water levels compared to the last year.

The fall in groundwater table during April this year at Kozhijampara (Chittur) was 2.02m; 1.88m at Alathur; 1.73m at Velanthavalam (Chittur); 1.46m at Kuzhalmannam; 0.90m at Ottappalam; 0.73m at Nemmara and 0.48m at Kongad. District groundwater officer and senior hydrologist, Thomas Scaria said that he the second biggest fall in groundwater level recorded at Pudussery was 2.07m during a similar drought situation in 2012.

“This huge fall of 2.53m and 2.02m in Palakkad and Chittur taluks respectively in the groundwater table is an indication to water crisis the district is to face, with the depletion a widespread phenomenon,” he added. He said that this unprecedented fall in the groundwater table this year is due to the lack of monsoon and summer rain. The district experienced 90% shortage in summer rains this season with just 8mm against the 81.6mm recorded in the previous years

According to a recent study of the central groundwater department, “Certain pockets in the eastern parts of the district are showing deterioration in the quality of water with high fluoride content.”

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