Marathwada water crisis: Water released from Mula dam

Despite a strong opposition from local people, Maharashtra government on Wednesday released three TMC water from Mula dam in the district to meet the needs of the Marathwada region facing acute water crisis.

Water was released for Jayakwadi dam in Aurangabad district in Marathwada region amid tight police security as per the state government directives, Irrigation Department officials said.

Electricity supply in the region was turned off so that nobody drew water from the flowing water released from Mula dam, the officials said.

Meanwhile, around 20 activists of Shiv Rajya Party attempted to stage protest by standing water against the move. However, they were taken away from the site, police said.

The irrigation department has received written orders from the state government after Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan took a decision to release water from these dams, officials said.

Party leaders in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts have opposed the decision saying that there had not been adequate rainfall during the monsoon in their districts as well.