Joint project by centre, world bank: Project to improve groundwater levels in 2,000 villages across state

Marathwada, a rain shadow region, receives less rainfall compared to other parts of the state and most of the cultivation here is heavily water dependent. Existing irrigation practices coupled with the water hungry crops here are other key factors in the fast drying up of the wells. Recently, below normal rainfall during two consecutive years — 2014 and 2015 — had further contributed in depletion of groundwater here.

Hydrologists have spoken about the benefits this scheme would have on the most affected areas in Marathwada. “The scheme will largely benefit water-stressed districts of Aurangabad, Latur, Nanded, Prabhani, Solapur and Osmanabad and involve an expenditure of Rs 250 crore,” said a hydrologist. While the project is expected to roll out sometime by the end of this year, GSDA is currently identifying and mapping the most water-stressed pockets in these two regions, thereby laying a foundation for kick-starting the project in the coming months.

“Along with our regular monitoring of wells, our job now involves studying these wells and their water tables over the last few decades ahead of implementing the scheme,” explained a GSDA official. When asked about the existing cropping pattern and any proposal being mooted to change it, a government official said, “While the primary aim is to restore the groundwater in this region, the project also aims to create awareness among farmers about the ill effects of rapid drying-up of groundwater in the wells.”