An initiative taken up by the district administration along with other departments aims to discourage farmers from cultivating eucalyptus, a water-intensive species, which has adversely affected groundwater level in the region.

Deputy Commissioner D.S. Vishwanath has formulated a plan to encourage farmers to cultivate sandalwood instead of eucalyptus, which would fetch a fair amount of money for the growers. The move would also conserve groundwater in the perennial drought-hit region.