Rainfall more than average, but 427 villages, 106 hamlets in Marathwada still tanker-dependent

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The Marathwada region in central Maharashtra has received more than average expected rainfall so far this year, but 427 villages and 106 hamlets in the region are still dependent on water tankers, according to an official report.

At 412.9 mm, the region's eight districts have received 28.95 per cent more than the average expected rainfall till July end, which is 320.2 mm, says the report by the revenue department.

However, the reservoirs and other sources that supply water to the districts in Marathwada do not have sufficient stock. As a result, the authorities have deployed 682 tankers to supply water to 427 villages and 106 hamlets in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Hingoli, Nanded and Dharashiv districts, the report says.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 239 villages and 3 hamlets were still dependent on 356 tankers as of July 31, the highest in the region. In Jalna district, 167 villages and 45 hamlets received water through tankers for the period.

The report says no water tanker is being used in Parbhani, Latur and Beed districts.

The Marathwada region has 877 major, medium and minor irrigation projects with a collective water storage capacity of 8,155.12 million cubic metres. The report says that these sources had a water stock of 17.77 per cent (about 1,400 MCM) on July 31.

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