Latur's lifeline Manjra dam touches dead storage mark

AURANGABAD: Water supply to nearly 1,400 industrial units in Latur, about 275 km from here, has been snapped as the Manjra dam, considered a lifeline for Latur and many areas of Beed districts, touched the dead storage mark this month.
The move is to ensure there is enough storage to meet the drinking water requirements of the two districts till summer next year. The eight districts of Marathwada have recorded an average 32% rainfall deficit this monsoon.Collectively, the 965 dams in the region have only 28% water available as compared to 65% storage reported at the same time last year.
Worried over meeting drinking water requirements of towns and villages dependent on Manjra water, the authorities concerned have ordered that water supply to three industrial estates under Latur MIDC be discontinued immediately.
MIDC regional officer Mahesh Meghmale told TOI that the move would severely affect industries, particularly processing units such as solvent plants and dal mills.
During a visit to Aurangabad on Wednesday, CM Devendra Fadnavis had admitted that the situation was grim and that drought might be declared by this month-end, but only after assessing the situation.