Maharashtra is once again reeling under oppressive heat. It is estimated that over three-fourth of the state is facing severe water shortage conditions. In Mumbai, too, the situation is hardly comfortable. The Maharashtra government had written to the Election Commission of India to relax the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) so that necessary relief measures to initiate drought mitigation could be implemented. The EC has now replied that the MCC will remain in force till the formation of the new Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the severity of the drought in the state is intensifying day by day.
According to the state government data, a large number of talukas in many districts across the state are suffering under serious drought conditions. More than 10000 water tankers have been deployed to supply drinking water in these areas. Still, humans and cattle are struggling to find water, nothing to say about agriculture.
Residents in many areas have to travel long distances and the womenfolk are the most harassed while trying to find drinking water for kids and elders in the family. The situation in parts of Maharashtra is so desperate that people of many towns and cities are getting water supply only after waiting for more than ten days.
The appeal to EC has evoked such a negative response despite completion of voting for the Lok Sabha elections on 20 May in the state.
The revised statistics says that water storage in 2994 large, small and micro dams across Maharashtra has dropped to just 23 percent at the end of May. It was over 32 percent last year for the corresponding period. The state Water Resources Department reports that the total live water storage capacity for all these dams is 40485 MLD but the present storage is down to only 9316.80 MLD.
The worst affected districts are in Marathwada region. They are — Beed, Jalna, Latur, Parbhani, Dharashiv, Nanded and Chattrapati Sambhajinagar. The crisis is made unbearable due to the depleting water storage in 920 dams in the region. The water volume existing, the lowest at the end of May, is a little over nine percent. It was more than 36 percent for the corresponding period last year.
Always referred to as the biggest dam, Jayakwadi in Paithan taluka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, is left with just five percent of storage. Last year, it was much higher, at 40.56 percent at the end of May. This earthen dam is the main source of water supply in Marathwada region. Apart from drinking water, the region depends on this dam for irrigating 2.5 lakh hectares of agriculture land. The water shortage has made life in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city difficult. People are forced to live with the water supply of once a week. Obviously, there is always a grave shortage and they have to rely on private water tankers. One reason for droughts is the changing weather cycle. The summer months between March and May have changed and have resulted in longer summers and shorter winters. The monsoon cycle, too, is changing. If the rains arrive in early June, the crisis will not be so grave. But rain patterns are changing, resulting in delayed and erratic monsoons. Many times, rain spells are short. There are longer gaps between two rain spells. All such vagaries add to the problems. In view of the alarming situation, the state government had urged the EC to ease the MCC restrictions. However, it had not happened till 31 May. Meanwhile, district collectors and revenue officials have been directed to arrange for necessary relief measures in their jurisdiction. Still, unless the government steps in, the relief will be only token.
Mumbai, the financial capital of India, is not free from water shortages either. When the situation was reviewed in January this year, it was announced that the seven lakes supplying water to the metropolis held 65 percent of their total capacity at that time. It was also noted that this was the lowest storage in the past two years. Warnings were issued that people may have to face water shortages in summer. According to civic calculations, the then supply would last till 15 July. Somehow, implementing a water cut was postponed at the time. It was sadi that it will be made after assessing the levels over the next three months.
In 2023, Mumbai had faced a ten percent water cut 1 July onwards since the lakes had than seven percent storage. The BMC had exploited the dead stock of Upper Vaitarna and Bhatsa lakes to meet the daily water demand. Fortunately, the heavy rains in July filled the lakes. The BMC then withdrew the water cut. Scattered showers in August and September took the water levels to almost 99 per cent by 1 October 2023. Satisfied by the storage, no water saving measures were implemented.
According to BMC water supply planning, just one percent of overall water storage is adequate for supplying water to Mumbai for three days. The present storage will, thus, last until 15 July even if there is no rainfall till that date. The delayed monsoon arrival and its early exit resulted in occurring of the lowest lake levels in the last two years.
The suffering populace in Maharashtra needs complimenting as people in rural and remote areas ventured out to vote. It is due to their alacrity that voting in the state has exceeded 60 percent. Rather than awarding them, the EC is penalising them in a way. It is well known that droughts and floods are the recurrent challenged faced by most of India. Every year, temporary measures are adopted and the cycle of calamities continues. The EC’s insistence of technicalities has aggravated the situation. Praying for an early monsoon is the only remedy for the people in general.
A Column By
Dilip Chaware – Senior Editor
A media professional for 43 years, with extensive experience of writing on
a variety of subjects; he is also a documentary producer and book author.
