Mumbai: Maharashtra is a state which faces unequal water supply almost every year. While some parts of the state face round-the-clock water supply, other areas face draught due to massive water scarcity. This lack of water not only leads to scarcity of drinking water but also hampers irrigation for farmers. The increasing debt in the region has also led to deaths by suicides by several farmers.
Among districts in Maharashtra that face water scarcity every year, especially during Summer include- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Pune, Jalna, Beed, Osmanabad, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, and Hingoli. Among Marathwada region, Sambajinagar is the distrct which is the most water scarce region, The region has a total of 3,137 villages. Konkan under which there are 533 villages, has the lowest number of villages that face water scarcity.
Among the major reasons that led to a scarcity of water is the depletion of water in reservoirs and dams and also the over-use of ground-level water. Notably, water tankers have become the only source of water supply in parched areas of the region. Back in 2019, the state government deployed the highest number of water tankers in order to fulfill the needs of the people.
Decline of water in reservoirs
The scorching heat has led to a dip in water in Maharashtra reservoirs. According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), as many as 32 reservoirs have witnessed a dip in water by nearly 7 percent. This is even as the water reservoirs stay stable at this time of the year.
However, due to issues like increasing demand in water consumption, evaporation and intense water in reservoirs have starts started depleting this year, raising concerns among authorities. As per the commission, nearly 150 reservoirs in the country are regularly monitored. Of these, Maharashtra’s 32 reservoirs can hold 58 percent of their total capacity. While the figure is lower last year, in 2023, there was 60 percent of water storage in the state.
In 2022, the situation was far better than the current situation. That year, the water storage in reservoirs across the state recorded 65 percent. Experts have expressed their concerns that this year the water scarcity may increase if the state receives less rainfall. With summers approaching fast, the government is required to take steps to prevent scarcity of water.
How Maharashtra Govt plan to tackle water scarcity this year?
In recent times, the Maharashtra government has taken a number of steps to drought in parts of the state. As per the Indian Express, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has re-initiated two river-linking projects, which are – Nalganga Wainganga and Nar- Par-Girna on his table. The state government has also started the Marathwada water grid project.
All three projects were cleared by Fadnavis during his first tenure as Maharashtra Chief Minister in 2014. However, these projects remained on paper for the last 10 years. Now, once again he renewed the water grid and two river-linking projects for the state. Speaking to the paper, an official said, “Among the list of projects chalked out to make Maharashtra drought-free, Nalganga-Wainganga and Nar-Par-Girna and Marathwada Water Grid have taken the highest priority. And all set to be fast-tracked.”
Speaking in Nagpur in March this year, Fadnavis announced that the state government would construct 31 new dams and a 426 km canal as part of the Wainganga-Nalganga river-linking project. The aim of the project is to remove the drought situation in areas of Vidarbha, ‘The Times of India’ reported. He also called the initiative a major step towards water conservation.
