Nearly Half of Maharashtra to Face Severe Water Crisis in 2018-19 -Malvika Singh

-Newsclick.in

11,487 villages in 167 tehsils will face water scarcity, farmers likely to be most severely hit.

After running in circles over “drought like situation” in Maharashtra, according to the latest study conducted by the state’s Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), nearly 71 per cent of the state shows a drop of more than a meter in groundwater level in September, as compared to a five-year average.

As many as 170 tehsils in 13 districts of Maharashtra have received deficient rainfall this year. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) southwest monsoon rainfall data shows that against a normal rainfall of 682.9 mm, the Marathwada region received 534.6 mm rainfall between June and September months, thus, recording a rainfall deficiency of 22 per cent.

According to official figures, the Aurangabad (in Marathwada region) and Nashik divisions received the lowest rainfall this year and have just about 27.59 per cent and 64.89 per cent of water, respectively, stored in dams there.

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