Wayanad District Collector Renu Raj directed the officials concerned to expedite steps to mitigate drought-like situation in the district.
Addressing a review meeting on drought mitigation on March 21 (Thursday) Ms. Raj said the civic bodies should adopt steps to disburse drinking water in drought-prone areas in the district. The ponds and wells should be recharged and desilt by utilising the services of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers, she added.
The Agriculture department officials were directed to assess the conditions of the farmlands facing acute water shortage and the water sources near the farms. Awareness programmes should be organised to sensitise farmers and farm workers to sunstroke and sunburn. If such cases are reported, they should be handed over to the District Disaster Management Authority in a time-bound manner, she added.
