Maharashtra : Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, addressed the Legislative Council on Friday, highlighting a worrying decline in water availability across the state. Fadnavis expressed deep concern over the water situation in the drought-prone Marathwada region, emphasizing the need for special attention and prioritized water management as the summer approaches.
Fadnavis disclosed that the current water storage in dams is only 44 percent, compared to 61 percent at the same time last year. The Marathwada division, particularly susceptible to drought conditions, has experienced a significant drop in water levels, with storage reduced to just 24 percent compared to 47 percent last year.
While Nagpur division records a slightly decreased water storage of 54 percent compared to 55 percent last year, Amravati division sees an improvement with 66 percent storage, up from 57 percent. Fadnavis assured that the water levels in Amravati would be sufficient to meet summer demands.
Highlighting the priority order for water allocation, Fadnavis stated, “Water will be first prioritized for drinking, then agriculture, followed by industry.” He stressed the importance of effective water management and announced a focus on desilting water bodies under the Jal Yukt Shivar scheme to enhance storage capacity.
As Maharashtra braces for potential water scarcity, Fadnavis urged collective efforts in addressing the looming crisis, particularly in Marathwada.
