Only 1% water remains in Marathwada dams

Mumbai, May 23

The administration and people in drought-hit Marathwada are pinning hopes on the monsoon as only 1 per cent water is left in the dams of the parched region.

“There is only 1 per cent water left in the dams in Marathwada region,” said Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner Umakant Dangat.

“We are also using the groundwater stock. The IMD’s forecast is good and we hope that we will be able to carry on till the monsoon arrives. We have acquired wells and borewells for water supply,” the senior IAS official said.

He expressed confidence that the administration would be able to supply water from the Jaikwadi dam to Aurangabad till July-end, by which time the monsoon would arrive.

Around 3,600 water tankers are being used to supply water to drought-affected villages and hamlets in the region.

This is the fourth year of drought in Marathwada in the last five years. Each of its 8,522 villages has been affected for two consecutive years. Latur in the region has been getting water by a special water train.

Around 400 cattle fodder camps are now operational in Beed, Latur, Osmanabad and Ahmednagar districts, officials said. — PTI