17 dists in state face drought threat

Mumbai: A drought threat looms large over 17 districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha regions of Maharashtra due to deficient rainfall and excess use of water for sugarcane cultivation, officials said. Most parts of Marathwada received average rainfall this monsoon but the water stock in the region stands at just 28.81 per cent, according to figures provided by the water resources department.

Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavlamban Mission president Kishor Tiwari alleged that '8,000 crore was returned to the Centre due to the irrigation department’s inefficiency.

Meanwhile, the  Jayakwadi dam, considered the lifeline of Marathwada, has 45.88 per cent water stock as of Tuesday, compared to 87.63 per cent last year. “At least 17 districts are facing a drought-like situation. But it is too early to predict if the regions will face severe scarcity,” an official from the water resources department said. The meeting of the sub-committee on relief and rehabilitation, headed by revenue minister Chandrakant Patil, is yet to be held and a final decision to declare the areas drought-prone is likely to be taken after October 15, said a senior revenue department officer.

“Sugarcane cultivation requires a large amount of water. There was sufficient water stock in the Manjara dam in Beed last year, but it has almost dried today due to excess use of its water to cultivate sugarcane,” said minister of state for water resources Vijay Shivtare. An official from the revenue department said, “Until the panchnama is conducted, the state cannot declare an area as drought-prone.”

According to official figures, the Manjara dam in Beed has 1.80 per cent water stock as compared to 88.04 per cent last year, and the Majalgaon dam in the district has dried up. Of the nine major dams in Marathwada, two have dried up. In Amravati, the dams have an average water stock of 57.37%.