Grim summer tanning Kerala, power and water crunch in store

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though the summer season has not yet touched half-way point, Kerala has been reeling under severe heat.

Even as mercury soared to unprecedented levels of up to 40 degree Celsius in some pockets of the state in the last few days, weathermen forecast that days ahead could be hotter till the equinox (when the sun crosses the plane of the earths equator and day and night are of equal length) on March 21.

While the highest levels of temperature were recorded from Palakkad district and Punalur town in Kollam district, mercury level has been averaging between 33 and 35 degree Celsius in most parts of the state in the last few days.

Since the rise in temperature is seen by the scientific community in the larger perspective of climate change and global warming, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is planning to conduct a comprehensive study into the seasonal variations in Kerala, IMD officials said.

According to some experts, lack of summer rains and absence of moisture laden north westerly wind have contributed to the present situation. Things could become grimmer if the dry winds from across the land through Andhra and Tamil Nadu hit Kerala in the coming days, they said.

If the present scenario continues, the state would head to serious drinking water and electricity crisis with rivers, rivulets, wells and tanks fast drying up and storage in hydro power reservoirs dwindling.