Maharashtra drought: Latur to get water by train in 15 days

Mumbai, April 7

Water will be brought to Latur district by trains in the next 15 days while prohibitory orders were clamped near water supply spots in Parbhani town to prevent any violence as authorities grapple with drought in the worst-hit Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

During a discussion on the acute water scarcity in Latur in the Maharashtra Assembly, Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said, "We have made arrangements for supplying water through train to Latur. The first such train will reach Latur in next fortnight."

The situation has turned so grim in areas like Latur and Beed that authorities are even mulling to shift the inmates in district prisons even as the Congress-NCP Opposition today accused the BJP-led government of failing to tackle the severe crisis.

In drought-hit Parbhani town, prohibitory orders have been enforced near supply spots and water tanks under Section 144 of CrPC till May 3 with deployment of Home Guards to check people milling around taps and tanks in large numbers that could result in law and order problems.

Water crunch has also hit Thane, adjoining Mumbai, with Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal appointing nodal officers for each of the 10 wards to take up measures to tackle the situation.

"Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman yesterday informed me that if needed, water from Telangana will be supplied to us (Maharashtra).

"No matter whatever the cost, we will supply water to these drought affected areas," Khadse said.

A Nashik report said parts of the district are facing drought-like situation. "15 tehsils in the district are facing severe water scarcity following inadequate rainfall since the past three years," an official said. — PTI