Marathwada dam levels drop to 34% as rainfall stays below average; 100-plus villages rely on tankers

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: With the Marathwada region in Maharashtra recording a below-average rainfall so far this year, the aggregate water stock in 11 of its major dams has plummeted to 34 per cent, due to which over 100 villages are still dependent on tankers for daily needs.

The Marathwada region, which comprises eight districts, has so far received 87 per cent of the average rainfall, as per the official figures.

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While 182.1 mm is the expected average rainfall, the actual figure stood at 158.4 mm.

In some districts, there is a rainfall deficit of 24 to 36 per cent.

While Latur received 64.2 per cent of the average rainfall, Parbhani recorded 64.7 per cent, Hingoli 77 per cent, Nanded 77.2 per cent, Beed 91 per cent, Dharashiv 94 per cent, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar 106.9 per cent and Jalna 114 per cent.

The current water stock in 11 major dams in the Marathwada region is 34.21 per cent, which was 49.86 per cent on this day last year. There is no water left in the Sina Kolegaon dam in Dharashiv district, while Jayakwadi dam, the biggest in the region, is left with 28.69 per cent water stock.

Lack of sufficient rains has posed problems of water availability for several villages.

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The tankers are supplying water in 103 villages across five districts -- Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded, Beed and Latur.

Ironically, the highest number of tankers deployed in water supply are in Jalna district, which has recorded the highest amount of rainfall in the region so far this year.

In Jalna, as many as 107 tankers are supplying water to 20 villages and 32 hamlets.

It is followed by Beed, where 21 villages and 36 hamlets are dependent on 65 tankers, a report from the divisional commissioner office says.

In Nanded, Parbhani and Latur 15, 12 and 1 tankers are supplying water to the villages.

The administration has also acquired wells for supplying water to the villages. The administration is supplying water to 691 villages with the help of 882 wells. At 247, the highest number of acquired wells are in Nanded district.