With just 0.68 per cent water left in dams, the Marathwada region is eagerly waiting for monsoon showers. A delay in the monsoon would further deepen the crisis in the region, already ridden with acute water and fodder shortage.

About 3,359 water tankers are plying in the region to quench the thirst of 3,177 villages and hamlets.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis recently held a review meeting, and has asked the district guardian ministers and the district collectors to give priority to drought relief works. The State government has asked the district administrations to prepare a contingency plan in the case of delay in monsoon showers.

Over five lakh cattle in the region are in 750 fodder camps.

The administration’s major challenge is to cater to the drinking water needs of over 1.87 crore people living in the eight districts of Marathwada. As of now, the district administrations are dependent on private wells and borewells acquired to ration the water supply.

Against a normal rainfall of 682.9mm, Marathwada received 534.6mm rainfall in June, resulting in the depletion of groundwater levels across the region.

Opposition parties have demanded that the government provide help to farmers in the form of cash, so that they may be able to carry out sowing for the current season.

Meanwhile, Shetkari Sanghatana, the farmers’ body, has launched an agitation against banks, which are carrying out auction of farmlands in Nashik.

Banks in the region are auctioning lands of farmers who have failed to repay debts. Sanghatana has stopped bank officers from entering, villages and has warned of severe agitation.

Farmers have demanded that the banks give them some time to recover from losses incurred due to drought.

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