{
  "id": 1964982,
  "title": "Kanthalloor faces serious drought, Collector gives nod to utilise funds for water distribution",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/kanthalloor-faces-serious-drought-collector-gives-nod-to-utilise",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T15:46:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kanthalloor-faces-serious-drought-collector-gives-nod-to-utilise-funds-for-water-distribution/article71365821.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The small village of Kanthalloor, situated in Idukki along the Tamil Nadu border, is grappling with a severe water crisis. Officials attribute this to unprecedentedly low rainfall which has left the grama panchayat in a dire situation. The District Collector has taken a decisive step to address the issue by granting special permission under the Disaster Management Act to allocate funds for distribution of drinking water.\n\nFive key wards - 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 - are identified as being particularly affected by the acute water shortage. The Collector has authorized the panchayat to spend ₹12 lakh on water distribution between April 1 and May 31, 2026. However, once this period ended, the panchayat was left with no remaining funds to utilize. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Collector has now offered special permission to use the remaining balance for water supply.\n\nThis decision marks a departure from the norm where funds for water distribution are typically only permitted during summer months. The government has issued this special order due to the severity of the crisis Kanthalloor is facing. Furthermore, the Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency has been instructed to examine long-term solutions to tackle the water scarcity in the village.\n\nA panchayat secretary, Suresh Kumar, confirmed the crisis, noting that the area has received negligible rainfall over the past two months. Most wards are experiencing an acute drinking water shortage and are enduring summer-like heat. The absence of rain has caused several waterfalls, typically popular with tourists, to dry up. Residents are struggling to access basic drinking water.\n\nKanthalloor, traditionally known for its cool-season vegetable farming and scenic tourism, is currently witnessing a significant decline. The severe drought and unusual heat have taken a toll on local businesses and resulted in a sharp drop in tourist arrivals. Former panchayat president P.T. Mohandas highlighted that the region has seldom experienced such conditions. \"The village is famous for garlic cultivation, but the lack of rain has almost completely destroyed this year's crop. The agricultural sector is in dire distress,\" he pointed out.\n\nCurrent IMD data indicates that Idukki district as a whole is facing a 46% rainfall deficit as of August 19. While the normal expected rainfall for this period is 2,018.3 mm, the district has only recorded 1,089.6 mm.",
  "summary": "The grama panchayat has been hit hard by deficient rainfall, prompting the District Collector to grant special sanction under the Disaster Management Act to utilise funds for drinking water distribution in the local body",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}