Reservoir levels in Maharashtra lowest in 7 years

PUNE: The current reservoir levels in Maharashtra are lowest in last seven years, while the reservoir status of Marathwada is most acute. According to the data with the state's Water Resources Department, the overall reservoir level in the state has dipped to 47% as on November 30. This is lowest in last 7 years. The earlier low was recorded in November 2012, when the reservoir levels were at 60%.

The drought prone Maharathwada region is the worst affected with just 13% live storage in the reservoirs located in the region. The earlier low was recorded in the year 2012, when live storage in the Marathwada reservoirs was at 19%.

With depleting water levels in the state's reservoirs, rabi crops as well as the annual cane crop will find it tough to get irrigation as the water has to be reserved for drinking purposes. As on November 23, 749 tankers were supplying drinking water to villages as compared to only 109 tankers supplying water on the same day last year.