Jayakwadi Dam Faces Water Shortage Despite Monsoon

Jayakwadi Dam, Maharashtra's largest irrigation project, has only 19.67% water storage due to insufficient rainfall in the catchment area. While the overall storage in 11 major projects in Marathwada is at 28.04%, some dams have zero per cent storage, raising concerns. Officials are optimistic about potential inflows from Nashik.

Despite two months of monsoon, the Jayakwadi Dam, Maharashtra's largest irrigation project, has only 19.67% water storage due to insufficient rainfall in the catchment area as of Tuesday.

The overall storage in 11 major irrigation projects in the Marathwada region stands at 28.04%. Notably, the Sina Kolegaon and Majalgaon dams in Dharashiv and Beed districts have zero per cent storage, raising serious concerns.

Officials remain optimistic, anticipating a rise in Jayakwadi Dam's water levels due to increased inflows from the Nashik region amid heavy rainfall. The catchment areas of Jayakwadi Dam have received 268 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season. This dam caters to the drinking and irrigation needs of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) and Jalna districts and connects to the Majalgaon dam via a canal network.

An official stated that Jayakwadi Dam's water storage reached 19.67% on Tuesday, with an inflow of 143.21 Million Cubic Meters (MCM) of water in the past 24 hours. Since June 1, the total inflow is 399.68 MCM. Current water storage in other Marathwada region dams includes 10% in Nimna Dudhna, 33.04% in Yeldari, 44.11% in Siddheshwar, 2.32% in Manjara, 51.76% in Penganga, 67.32% in Manar, and 29.36% in Nimna Terna.

(With inputs from agencies.)