Maharashtra: 38 per cent drop in water storage in 750 minor irrigation projects of Marathwada

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Water storage in 750 minor irrigation projects across eight districts of Marathwada has experienced a significant 38% decline this year compared to the same period last year, according to an official report on Monday.

The report from the divisional commissioner's office indicates that as of January 12, the storage in these projects stands at 24%, in stark contrast to 62% during the same period last year and 71% in 2022. A concerning 19% water deficit has been recorded across the eight Marathwada districts.

Dharashiv district has the highest number of 206 minor projects, followed by Latur with 134, Beed 126, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with 98, Nanded 80, Jalna 57, Hingoli 27, and Parbhani 22, as outlined in the report. Despite the total capacity of these projects being 1633.08 million cubic meters (MCM), the current storage stands at just 392.37 MCM.

Specifically, water storage in projects in Nanded was at 72% as of January 12, while in Jalna, it was only 3%, indicating substantial variations across the region.

Meanwhile, a report on January 1 said that the average groundwater level in Maharashtra's Marathwada region has fallen by 1.01 metres. The average depth of groundwater was 4.03 metres post monsoon in the past five years, while it was measured at 5.04 metres after the rains in 2023.

Also read: Latur receives water supply once a week as storage level in Manjara dam plummets

The official said 61 out of 76 talukas of Marathwada have faced rain deficit between June and September 2023, including 19 talukas with a deficit of 30 to 50 per cent, newswire PTI reported.

As per the report from the ground water survey department, the average groundwater level in Jalna has gone down from 3.99 metres to 6.68 metres, which means a drop of 2.69 metres.

The report is made on the basis of survey of 875 wells across eight Marathwada districts, the official said.

"The groundwater level has gone down by 1.73 metres in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) and Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) districts. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar the depth is 6.88 metres against the earlier 5.15 metres. In Dharashiv, it has gone down from 3.85 metres to 5.58 metres," the official said quoting the report.

In Nanded the groundwater level has gone up by 1.12 metres, the report says.

Districts and the falling groundwater level: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar- 1.73 metres; Jalna- 2.69 metres; Parbhani- 0.40 metres; Hingoli- 0.86 metres; Latur- 1.20 metres; Dharashiv- 1.73 metres; Beed- 1.38 metres. (With inputs from agencies)