Jayakwadi may bring relief to Beed, Latur-Osmanabad on edge

Aurangabad: The substantial storage in Jayakwadi dam has paved the way for possible water release for parts of Beed if the monsoon fails to make a strong comeback to the parched district.

Latur and Osmanabad districts in Marathwada, however, are still on tenterhooks and waiting for strong revival of monsoon.

Marathwada, which comprises eight districts, is still supplied with nearly 1,090 tankers with Beed, Jalna, Osmanabad and Latur receiving the supply of tankers in affected areas.

Beed district, which has been reeling under water scarcity with over 53% monsoon deficiency, is being supplied with maximum 684 water tankers currently in affected areas.

Majalgaon major irrigation project (-25.16%), Manjra major irrigation project (-22.94%) and Bindusara medium irrigation project among other resources that supply water to Beed district have been showing record low levels of the respected dead storages.

A senior official from Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC) said water release from Jayakwadi dam towards Majalgaon dam could be considered if the latter continues to show poor storage levels.

“It will be too early to comment on different water releases from Jayakwadi dam, but addressing drinking water issues remains top priority. As the Jayakwadi dam has sufficient storage by the end of the initial two months of the rainy season, Majalgaon dam could receive water if it does not get revived,” he said.

The right bank canal system of Jayakwadi facilitates the channel for water release to Majalgaon. As far as Beed city and outskirts are concerned, a special arrangement has been in place to draw the water from Majalgaon dam.

Latur district, whose lifeline Manjra dam is showing record low of storage, will need a strong comeback of monsoon to ease out the situation. The district on an average has received 244 mm rainfall, which accounts for only 64% of the expected showers. It is being supplied with 83 tankers currently.

Besides Majra dam, Dhanegaon barrage and Nagzari barrage serve as auxiliary sources of water for Latur, but both these resources continue to be in the dead storage.

Similarly, the water situation is grim in Osmanabad district, which is getting supplied with the second highest number of 208 tankers amid peak rainy season. Sina Kolgaon (-87) and Lower Terna (-17), two major irrigation projects that supply water to Osmanabad along with other resources, have failed to get revived till date.

Notably, efforts are on to draw water for parts of Latur and Osmanabad districts from Ujjani dam, but the ongoing ambitious project is likely to take considerable time due to paucity of funds and other issues.

“Parts of Marathwada, including certain areas of Aurangabad , Jalna, Parbhani and Beed district among other regions, could benefit from the water release from Jayakwadi. However, remaining other districts will have to pray for the revival of monsoon,” GMIDC authorities said.

Notably, Aurangabad, Nanded, Parbhani and Hingoli districts have become free from tankers owing to relatively better rainfall and revival of natural and artificial water bodies to a certain extent.