Maharashtra’s water woes are deepening day by day and now, levels of water in dams have reached a new low. In spite of monsoons being just 2 months away, dams in Maharashtra have just 19 percent water, while some damns in Marathwada have just 3 percent water in reservoirs.
As per reports, 8 out of 11 major dams are having a dead storage level and just 3 percent of water is there. Last year during this season, dams in Marathwada had 11 percent water. Dams all over the state have just 19 percent water in comparison with 32 percent at this time last year.
Umakant Dangat, the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad stated that this is the lowest water storage in the history of Marathwada but there is sufficient water which would surely last till monsoons. They can use dead storage water but it has to be pulled out.
Talking about Amravati, wherein the number of farmer suicides is highest, water levels in dams have dropped from 30 percent to 18 percent. Local officials had already been instructed by the government for prioritizing drinking water. However Girish Mahajan, the State Water Resources Minister stated that water supply to this industry is cut.
The government is considering not giving permission for setting up sugar factory in Marathwada region.