But, in the drought-prone Marathwada region in Central Maharashtra, the water stock currently stands at just 20%, and, if the rains do not pick up over the next two months, the region may be staring at another year of scarcity in 2019, officials said.
Last year, the region’s water stock was 25.16%.
The monsoon season in Maharashtra will last another two months, and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), has also forecast downpours from August 8 across Maharashtra, a senior official of the water resources department said.
In the state, the total water stock stands at 51.21% of the total capacity of reservoirs.
This situation is better than last year in the same month.
At present, Aurangabad, Jalna and Nanded are reeling under a water crisis, and the the highest number of tankers — 260 of them — has been deployed in the Aurangabad district alone.
“The situation may further worsen if there is no good rainfall in the district,” admitted an official from Aurangabad district collectorate, who did not want to be named.
So, we have at least two months’ time,” he said adding, “If the IMD’s forecast of a downpour from August 8 comes true, then that one push will take the existing stock to 60-70% .” He further said the low rainfall in the region will not affect the Jayakwadi dam, as it is not dependent on rains in Marathwada but on rain in the Nashik region, owing to its location.
The water stock situation of Amravati region in Vidarbha is better than Marathwada, as the it received more than 87% rains in July, above the normal limit.
Buldhana is the only district of the region which is using tankers (49) for water supply, said an officer from water resources department.