Overview
- Official divisional-commissioner data show Marathwada has received 82% of its expected monsoon rainfall so far this year, an 18% regional deficit compared with the long-term average.
- The 11 major irrigation projects in the region together hold 125.75 TMC, equal to 69.06% of storage capacity, leaving less buffer for farms and towns if rains do not increase.
- Latur and Parbhani are the worst-hit districts with deficits of 40.5% and 32.2% respectively, while only Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has recorded above-average rainfall so far.
- Some reservoirs show extreme year-on-year declines, with Sina Kolegaon at zero water stock after holding 93.73% at the same point last year and Manjara down to 14.89% from 95.54%.
- Lower rainfall and falling storage heighten risks to sowing, irrigation schedules and drinking-water supplies for farmers and rural households, and they will force district authorities to target water management and relief measures in the worst-affected areas.