Marathwada water levels negative

Mumbai: Although Western Maharashtra has witnessed unprecedented flooding, the Marathwada region continues to reel under drought.

The water storage capacity in most Marathwada dams remains in the negative. The water level in Manjara Dam and Majalgaon Dam of Beed district are at -23.79 per cent and -20.00 per cent respectively. The water level in Purna Yeladari dam of Parbhani district is at -1.01 per cent.

A senior official said that the government is supplying 1248 water tankers to drought-hit Marathwada.

Most of the dams in Marathwada continue to be at the dead water storage level. The water levels in the dams have gone below the water tapping capacity. The water level of Urdhva Penganga dam and Jayakwadi dam are at 15.48 per cent and 85.96 per cent respectively.

The Marathwada region, which comprises Aura-ngabad, Beed, Hingoli, Parbhani, Nanded, Latur, Jalna and Osmanabad districts, has been facing severe drought in the last four years.

With only 32 per cent of the total average rainfall this season, Aurangabad division has recorded the worst figures across all six divisions of the state. On the other hand, Amravati division, which constitutes parts of Vidarbha, has received 37 per cent of the average rainfall. The Konkan division, which covers the coastal parts of the state, leads the list, recording 88 per cent of the total average rainfall.

Overall, Maharashtra has received 66.2 per cent of the average rainfall till September 7.

An official said that all cattle camps are operational in Nashik, Pune and Aurangabad   divisions. At least 51 cattle camps are being run in Beed district. According to the official, these camps have sheltered 29,695 livestock, including 28,096 big cattle. Over 11,000 livestock have been kept in 18 cattle camps in Osmanabad district. The official also remained hopeful of good rains in Marathwada.  

The dead zone

When water is below the dead water storage level, which is also called reserved water, in the dam, it is measured in negative. Dead water storage refers to the water in a reservoir that cannot be drained using the dam’s outlets and can only be pumped out.