Maharashtra: Ahead of summer, Osmanabad and Latur stare at water shortage

AURANGABAD: Major irrigation projects in Marathwada currently hold twice the amount than the average from the past five years, but many parts in the region, including Latur, Osmanabad and certain areas of Parbhani, are faced with a scarcity this summer.
Summer hasn't officially started but reservoirs, one each from Latur and Osmanabad, have already hit dead storage levels.One project in Parbhani is already showing single-digit storage.
Irrigation projects in Aurangabad, Beed, Hingoli and Nanded districts, however, hold sufficient stock. The Jayakwadi irrigation project - a lifeline for Aurangabad and parts of Marathwada - was at 81%.
The Manjra irrigation project in Latur and Sina Kolegaon project from Osmanabad currently show no live storage, whereas Lower Dudhna in the district of Parbhani, district is showing only 6% live storage.
As per official data of the State Water Resources Department (WRD), a total of 11 major irrigation projects in Marathwada were holding a combined 69% live storage as of Monday. The region has 75 medium irrigation projects that were showing 40% live storage; 749 small irrigation projects have been showing 32% live stock. Another 13 barrages built over Godavari currently have 71% live storage, whereas such structures built on the Terna, Manjra and Rena rivers were having 18% live storage.
A senior WRD official said Latur and Osmanabad will have to rely on medium or small irrigation projects besides barrages for their water needs this summer.
“A judicious use of water will have to be norm right from the start of summer. District administrations have already taken note of depleting water reservoirs in both the districts. The available water will be reserved for drinking on a priority basis,” an official from the WRD said.
Latur district disaster management officer Saqueb Osmani said residents were receiving tap water after a gap of 10 days since the monsoon and added that there was no immediate plan to reduce the frequency. “The Manjra dam has around 1.4 TMC of water. Other reservoirs also hold some amount of water that can be put to judicious use this summer,” he said.
Residents of Beed, a district in Marathwada known for water scarcity in the summers, have some relief as the Majalgaon major irrigation project currently has a stock of 79%.
The Jayakwadi dam had received heavy inflow from upstream areas, especially Nashik, during Monsoon 2019. It witnessed heavy periodic discharge, which in turn filled the Majalgaon dam despite its catchment areas receiving weak rainfall.
Marathwada overall had a deficient monsoon last year, with below average levels during the first three months of rain.
The region reported the lowest - 65% average rainfall - in June, followed by 72% in August and 75% in July. In September, Marathwada reported 124.5% rainfall, followed by considerable showers in October.