Shivamogga: Agumbe is well known for its heavy rains. It is popularly called as the ‘Cherrapunjee’ of South India. However, Agumbe is facing scarcity of rains this year.
So far Agumbe has received only 5 cm rains for this year. The region had received 27 cm rains by this time last year. It is being said that the destruction of forests is the reason for the shortage of rains. Agumbe had received 6,151.7 mm rains in 2016, 6,276.4 mm in 2017 and 8,208 mm in 2018.
Environmentalist Ajay Kumar has opined that the destruction of forests and ‘Bagar Hukum’ Act are the reasons for shortage of rains in the region. “The water level has come down in Tunga, Malathi and Varahi rivers. Even the lakes are drying up. Shivamogga district is dependent on Agumbe rains for water. But the region’s forests are being destroyed and nobody knows what is happening,” said Ajay Kumar.
