Amidst mounting concerns over water scarcity, the water storage in dams across Marathwada has plummeted to a mere fraction of their capacity, signalling a looming crisis as the monsoon remains five weeks away.
Notably, on Friday, dam levels dwindled to approximately one-tenth of their total capacity, a stark contrast to the same period last year when reserves stood at over two-fifths. In Beed district, which relies heavily on dam reservoirs for water supply, the situation is particularly dire. Of the eight dams catering to the district’s water needs, three have completely run dry, while two others are barely at 2% capacity. Storage levels in the remaining three dams range from a meagre 7% to 22%, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
With the spectre of impending drought looming large, authorities have been compelled to intensify water distribution efforts. Currently, Beed accounts for the deployment of 382 out of the 3,393 water tankers operational across the state. These tankers are catering to the needs of 308 villages and 282 hamlets, marking Beed as the third most heavily impacted region in terms of tanker deployment. Neighbouring districts such as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Jalna are also grappling with escalating water woes, with 656 and 488 tankers deployed respectively, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis in Marathwada. As the region braces for the monsoon’s arrival in the coming weeks, concerted efforts are underway to mitigate the immediate impact of the water scarcity crisis and alleviate the plight of affected communities.
