Madikeri: Drought looms large over the entire Kodagu district, known for greenery and the grim scenario has sent alarm bells ringing into everyone’s ears. Awakened by the situation, the Cauvery River Protection Committee has urged the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dr. R V D’Souza to ban all commercial activities in and around River Cauvery till the onset of monsoon.

The committee headed by its convener M N Chandramohan sought a blanket ban on all tourist and commercial activities at the district’s famous tourist locales of Dubare, Nisargadhama and pilgrim centre Kanive till the onset of monsoon and take measures to clean up the river from pollutants and waste.

The committee members urged Dr. Richard Vincent D’Souza to give priority to drinking water and enforce measures to preserve the water levels in the relevant resources. Latest reports suggest that most lakes and minor water resources have dried and crops including coffee, pepper and paddy are severely affected with plants withering in the scorching sun.

Closure of meat processing and selling outlets on river banks too came up for discussion during the meeting with the DC where some measures have already been taken by the district administration.

Committee welcomed the decision of Kushalnagar Town Municipal Council (TMC), which has allotted a separate amount in its annual budget for cleaning river Cauvery in its territory.

The committee also requested the DC to take strict measures to prevent untoward incidents in river Cauvery and other tourist spots after reports of many tourists’ deaths emerged in the recent past.

DC assured the committee of convening a meeting of the officials including those of the tourism department to take stock of the situation and take necessary measures. The district administration will strictly abide by the Supreme Court guidelines on Cauvery river conservation, DC Richard D’souza assured the committee members.