Marathwada's Dire Water Storage Crisis: Irrigation Projects Hit Record Lows

Water storage in Marathwada's major irrigation projects fell to 20.14% by the end of July. Key reservoirs like Sina Kolegaon and Majalgaon are at zero levels. Despite receiving 59.6% of the average rainfall, crucial catchment areas experienced sparse rain. Jayakwadi dam is only at 7.23% capacity.

Water storage in eleven major irrigation projects in central Maharashtra's Marathwada region plummeted to a mere 20.14 percent by the end of July, as per an official report released on Tuesday.

The Sina Kolegaon reservoir in Dharashiv and Majalgaon reservoir in Beed district are completely dry, standing at zero percent storage capacity.

Although the region has received 59.6 percent of its average monsoon rainfall, the primary catchment areas of the Godavari valley have seen significantly less precipitation, officials noted. Jayakwadi, situated on the Godavari in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, which is the largest dam in the region, registered only 7.23 percent water storage, compared to 30.93 percent the same day last year. This dam has received an inflow of 127 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) to date. In contrast, Vishnupuri dam in Nanded district holds 88.46 percent of its capacity, up from 62.82 percent a year ago.

Other dams in the region have failed to reach even half their storage capacity. Despite receiving inflows of 19.10 MCM and 7.19 MCM since June 1, Majalgaon and Sina Kolegaon reservoirs are below zero percent, reflecting dead storage levels.

The detailed water storage percentages for various Marathwada reservoirs are as follows: Jayakwadi (7.23 percent), Nimn Dudhana (8.14 percent), Yeldari (31.31 percent), Siddheshwar (24.82 percent), Majalgaon (zero percent), Manjara (1.37 percent), Penganga (43.67 percent), Manar (49.37 percent), Nimn Terna (27.60 percent), Vishnupuri (88.46 percent), and Sina Kolegaon (zero percent).

(With inputs from agencies.)