Maharashtra Faces Water Crisis as Dam Levels Drop to 41.3%; Pune worst affected
Maharashtra Faces Water Crisis as Dam Levels Drop to 41.3%; Pune worst affected
Maharashtra is staring at a water crisis as dam levels across the state have dropped to just 41.3% of their total live storage capacity. With scorching summer temperatures and delayed monsoon rains, authorities are under pressure to manage water supply until mid-July.
The Pune region is the worst hit, with reservoirs at only 36.31% capacity. In contrast, the Amravati region is faring the best, with water stock at 50.09%. The Konkan region follows closely with 49.96%, while Nagpur and Nashik stand at 41.49% and 43.9% respectively. Marathwada, a region often facing water shortages, is at 40.49%.
Maharashtra has 2,997 dams with a combined live storage capacity of 40,498 million cubic meters. As of mid-April, only 30,034 million cubic meters of water remain. This is slightly better than last year’s 35.16% for the same time, but officials are not taking any chances.
Forecasts of an intense heatwave have raised concerns. In response, the government is deploying water tankers, especially in rural and semi-rural areas. As of April 7, 223 tankers are supplying water to 178 villages and 606 hamlets.
Satara district in the Pune division has the most tankers at 40, followed by Jalna in Marathwada with 32. Thane district is also facing pressure, with 30 tankers currently in use.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared for more tanker deployments. Citizens have been urged to use water wisely. The government is also planning stricter conservation steps to avoid a full-blown crisis.
With rainfall still weeks away, Maharashtra is bracing for a long and difficult summer.
