Panoor
Block Panchayat

Geography and Environment of Panoor Block Panchayat

Geography

The Panoor Block Panchayat spans an area of 47.09 square kilometers in the midland region of Kannur district, encompassing 4 village panchayats. Geographically, it is located between 11° 46′ and 11° 40′ North latitude and 75° 39′ and 75° 32′ East longitude.

• Boundaries: It is bordered to the east by Padiyam Panchayat (close to the high-land region) and Panoor Municipality within the midlands. To the west, it borders New Mahe Grama Panchayat and Mahe Municipality near the coast. Administratively, both its eastern and western borders are municipal areas.
• Terrain: Most of the area consists of plains up to 25 meters above sea level, though hills reaching up to 230 meters are found in Mokeri and Kathiroor panchayats. The landscape features a mix of hills, slopes, plains, valleys, and paddy fields. Major hills include Oyaprekkunnu, Puthenkunnu, Kottakunnu, Kotalakunnu, Kurara Kunnu, Navodaya Kunnu, Edappakunnu, Thampuran Kunnu, Mullan Kunnu, Peram Kunnu, Keloth Kunnu, Kaladan Kunnu, Kara Kunnu, Pulyode Kunnu, and Namath Kunnu.

Soil Types

• Laterite soil mixed with gravel is the most common soil type.
• Loamy soil and sandy soil are mixed together in the western parts of Pannyannur and Mokeri panchayats, which also include waterlogged areas.
• Clay and paddy field soils are found in the south-western parts of Chokli, where saline water intrusion from river basins also occurs.
• Ponnayam Vayal and Mokeri Vayal feature sandy paddy field soils.
• Agriculture: About 80% of the land is homestead cultivation. Cashew is grown in the laterite rocky areas of Mokeri and Kathiroor panchayats. Coconuts and arecanuts are cultivated based on soil depth and moisture. Although intercropping has great potential in all panchayats, it is practiced on a nominal scale. Vegetable farming is notable mainly in Mokeri and Kathiroor panchayats, and farmers with more than 5 acres of land are very rare.

Water Resources

The Panoor block area falls within two river basins: the Kaviyoor watershed in the Chokli Grama Panchayat belongs to the Mahe River basin, while the remaining watersheds belong to the Thalassery River basin.

• Streams originating from the hills are abundant in Panoor, though their current state is heavily depleted.
• Drinking water needs rely on open wells, while irrigation depends on streams and ponds.

Environmental Characteristics

The Panoor Block Panchayat is a treasure trove of biodiversity, maintaining a rich history of homestead farming.

• Biodiversity: Traditional multi-tiered agricultural practices allowed sunlight to be utilized without intense competition. Plant diversity ranged from small ground-cover plants to towering trees like the tamarind, which preserved soil structure and moisture.
• Water & Nature Conservation: Farmers practiced localized water conservation by creating circular trenches around coconut trees. Small hills and wetlands served as water reservoirs and natural habitats, keeping the area green and lush.
• Sustainability: Paddy fields and wetlands stored enough freshwater until the next rainy season, supporting freshwater fish populations and maintaining a balanced food web. Traditional mixed farming, crop rotation, and integrated resource management ensured ecological balance from hilltops to valley outlets.

Rainfall

The region receives average rainfall typical of the state, distributed across three seasons:

• Monsoon (South-West): June, July, August
• Post-Monsoon (North-East): September, October
• Summer Rains: April, May
• Total Rainfall: Annual rainfall ranges from 250 mm to 3000 mm across an average of 124 rainy days. The eastern high-land region just beyond the block's eastern border receives up to 3500 mm of rain, feeding the streams that flow into the Panoor block. However, despite this abundance, certain areas within the block experience drought conditions, and monsoons have increasingly become erratic and diminished in recent years.

Specific Environmental Issues

• Degradation: Hill cutting, leveling of low-lying areas, wetlands, and paddy fields are major environmental concerns across all four panchayats.
• Topsoil Removal: Removing topsoil from homesteads and dry lands for construction activities causes further ecological damage.
• Salinity & Wasteland: Saline water intrusion affects the Olavilam area in Chokli Panchayat, leaving 480 hectares of land barren.

Watersheds Table