Given the current situation, residents will have enough drinking water till January
Despite deploying a special water train for parched Laturkars during summer, water woes continue to persist in Latur. Presently, water is provided across homes in the city once in 15 days. Considering the current water supply, residents will have enough drinking water only till January.
Chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya said though the overall average rainfall has been satisfactory, the Manjara and Terna dams still do not have adequate water. "A dry spell persisted for about 25-30 days, which created panic in farming communities. There has been adequate rainfall over the last 3-4 days, which has benefited standing crops," said Kshatriya. He added that the situation has yet to improve in a few pockets. He pointed out that not enough water has accumulated in Manjra and Terna dams – the sources of water for Latur.
The state water resources department website shows that when it comes to the Nimna or lower Trena and Manjra projects, there is no water stock that can be utilized. In both reservoirs, water levels are below the dead stock. This could mean that even if the water level crosses the dead stock limit, Laturkars can heave a sigh of relief. Latur and adjoining areas have already received its average annual rainfall, but Manjra and Terna dams still do not have adequate water.
Manjra dam falls under Beed district and whenever there is enough rains in the catchment areas of Ashti, Patoda, Kej and Kalam, water accumulates in Manjra dam. The past 3-4 days have witnessed good rainfall in Beed district, which would benefit Manjra dam. The dam was filled completely eleven times in the past 35 years. However, after four successive years of drought, despite satisfactory rains this year, the Manjra dam and lower Terna dam water levels are below the dead stock. Latur, which has a population of five lakhs, receives water from Sai and Nagzari barrages – two of the 12 barrages on the downstream of the dam. Since there is water in Sai and Nagzari barrages, water supply through water taps has begun and at present Latur residents have access to water every fifteen days.
The real water problem would arise after the Kharif season, when farmers would also lift water for Rabbi crops. Owing to the successive drought years before this year's satisfactory monsoon, bores have also received water that will prove to be sufficient till January. Kshatriya said the state government is hopeful that the region will receive rainfall during the reverse monsoon.
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