Dry spell in Marathwada: Govt reserves dam water only for drinking purposes

The low water levels in dams and the IMD warning of no rains next week forced the state government to issue an advisory to officials across Marathwada to allow dam water only for drinking purposes. Any violations would invite stern action.

Jaikwadi dam has 6 per cent water. Manjara, Sina Kolegaon, Majalgaon, Lower Terna dams touched dead levels and have not shown any increase.

The administration’s decision comes in the wake of unchecked use of water from dams by private sugar mills for sugarcane cultivation.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, at a meeting with cabinet ministers, said dam water cannot be wasted.

In the wake of delayed monsoons, resowing is already over and farmers are awaiting to advance the rabi post October, 2015. The Indian Meteorological Department indicated no rains for a week in Marathwada.

According to Irrigation Minister Girish Mahajan, “Except Jaikwadi, which has 6 per cent water, dams in Marathwada are in bad state. We decided that water from dams will be for drinking purpose. Agriculture will be accorded second priority after reviewing the situation.”

Overall, the state recorded 58 per cent rains, 48 per cent water storage and 93 per cent sowing of crops. The average rainfall in the state should have been 861 mm but it received 497 mm. Nagpur received 100 per cent rainfall, Buldana, Akola, Wardha, Nandurbar, Washim and Bhandara recorded

between 76 and 100 per cent rainfall.

In Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Dhule, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Aurangabad, Raigad, Jalna, Nanded, Solapur, Kolhapur, Gadchiroli it was 51 to 75 per cent. In Nashik, Solapur, Kolhapur, Osmanabad, Parbhani, Latur and Beed, rainfall was 26 to 50 per cent.