Marathwada stares at water crisis as stock in reservoirs plunges to 32 pc
With IMD predicting good monsoon in Maharashtra this year, water resources ministry had hoped its dams would see increased water storage.
4 min read
On August 23, 2022, water level in dams across Marathwada region comprising eight districts recorded 72.18 per cent. File WITH RAIN playing truant at the peak monsoon season, water storage in 964 dams in Marathwada region is just 31.62 per cent of its full capacity. In actual terms, water in these dams is collectively only 22,94,970 million litres as against their maximum capacity of 72,58,830 million litres. A year ago, during the same period on August 23, water level in dams across Marathwada region comprising eight districts recorded 72.18 per cent.
With IMD predicting good monsoon in Maharashtra this year, water resources ministry had hoped its dams would see increased water storage. While Konkan, Western Maharashtra and parts of Vidarbha and North Maharashtra reported intense rainfall in July and August, Marathwada region continued to have erratic rain pattern.
The biggest dam Jayakwadi in Paithan taluka in Aurangabad, which is the main source for drinking water and agriculture in the drought prone region, has water storage at 33.97 per cent. Last year, the water level in Jayakwadi on August 23 was 93.75 per cent. As against its maximum capacity of 21,70,930 million litres, the water storage in Jayakwadi is 7,37,400 million litres only.
The low water storage in Marathwada dams has alarmed the state administration.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said, “Despite IMD predicting good monsoon this year, there are some regions which have even deprived of good rain. The low water storage in dams is a cause of concern. On the other hand, there has been areas which received heavy rains that has adversely affected the kharif crops. Taking all these factors into consideration, he said, we have to adopt “long-term plans to provide relief to farmers and also initiate steps to tackle water crisis ahead.”
The eight districts of Aurangabad, Beed, Latur, Hingoli, Parbhani, Osmanabad, Jalna and Nanded are in drought-prone region. However, from 2019 to 2022, the region received good rainfall. Thus, it averted the drought.
Initially, Nanded along with Beed and Aurangabad received good rain in July. But the absence of rain for 20 days in August has left both the farmers and the administration worried.
Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde, who himself hails from Beed district in Marathwada region, has made provisions through surplus seeds and fertilizers to enable farmers take second and third sowing of kharif hoping extended monsoons would bring some respite. The monsoon is likely to stay till September-end.
The statistics from water resources department shows all major dams in Marathwada region have low water storage including Jayakwadi.
The water storage in Majalgaon dam in Beed district is extremely low at 14.23 per cent as against 56.42 per cent last year. Out of the total storage capacity of 3,11,340 million litres, it currently has only 44,300 million litres. If the water storage fails to touch 30 per cent, it will have adverse impact on one lakh hect-ares of agriculture land which draws water from this dam for irrigation. The farmers across Parli, Mazalgaon, Gangakhed and Nanded will be affected.
Another dam, Manjara in Beed district, has only 25.47 pc compared to last year’s 42.75 per cent. With 1,76,960 million litres optimum storage capacity, the water storage stands at 45,080 million litres.
The list of dams with poor water storage runs long in Marathwada region. The Sina Kolegaon in Osmanabad district has zero water storage. Last year, it stood at 19 per cent. The dam water holding capacity is 76,180 million litres.
The Lower Dudhna dam in Parbhani district shows 26.76 per cent. A year ago on August 23, it was 68.34 per cent. Out of 2,42,200 million litres, the dam has presently 64,810 million litres.
At Hingoli, Siddheshwar dam is an important source for irrigation and drinking water with 80,960 million litres storage capacity. At present it has 36,300 million litres which is 44.84 per cent. Last August, its water storage was much higher at 94.94 per cent.
The Yeldhari dam with 4,85,210 million litres (59.92 per cent) also failed to match last year’s record of 88.37 pc. Though the dam has been designed to store 8,09,770 million litres, it is unlikely to touch the optimum level.
You May Like
Photos
