MUMBAI/AURANGABAD: Battling one of the worst droughts in the recent past, Marathwada region is left with paltry 380 million cubic metres of usable water in over 800 dams in the region.
According to officials, of the 75 medium dams in Marathwada, 54 have dried up. The state had also declared drought in a few thousand villages in Vidarbha. With a grim situation prevailing in all eight districts, the drought condition is likely to get intense in the coming days with the administration pressing into action services such as sending in more number of water tankers and getting water from neighbouring districts.
Divisional commissioner Umakant Dangat said, “The government is trying its best to ensure that the meagre water storage lasts till rains arrive.”
Sources in the divisional commissioner office said that of the 843 dams of the region, only 380 MCM is left. while the total capacity is 7,968 MCM. Over 2,500 water tankers are in operation in the region.
