Over 200 wells acquired to address Marathwada water woes

The move is aimed at breathing life into Marathwada which has been battered by several droughts

Over 200 wells have been acquired to address water scarcity in villages of parched Marathwada region and at least 13 tankers have been pressed into service to meet the demand, an official said on Thursday.

According to the divisional commissioner's office, the administration has acquired 253 wells and commenced tanker ferries this month to deal with water scarcity in the droughtprone region. At least 13 tankers have been engaged to supply water to four villages in Jalna district, six in Hingoli and one in Nanded, the official said. The administration has acquired 160 wells, which is the highest, in Hingoli district, followed by 33 in Nanded, 27 in Aurangabad, 24 in Beed and nine in Jalna, he said.

As per a report released by the irrigation department, 81 major projects have 54.33 per cent water storage as compared to 50.03 per cent at this time last year. In 81 medium projects, the storage is at 53.44 per cent compared to 50.33 per cent the same time last year, while water storage in 838 small projects is at 46.29 per cent compared to 27.6 per cent the same day last year, it stated.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Aurangabad city toured old wells to check the availability of water. The water is supplied to the city from the Jayakwadi dam located at Pathan around 55 km away from the city. The city requires nearly 140 million litres of water per day, and the demand has increased this summer.

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation has pressed into service 85 tankers to supply drinking water in various parts of the city, apprised deputy municipal commissioner Santosh Tengle.

On Wednesday, municipal commissioner Astik Kumar Pandey visited wells in historical Himayat Baugh and Harsul lake, while district collector Sunil Chavan visited Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University campus and the railway station area to examine wells. The local authorities are planning to make available 10 million litres of water per day through these water sources to meet the current demand.