Water storage level better in Vidarbha reservoirs

Water storage levels in major reservoirs of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra are better this summer as compared to the last, indicating it will not be very tough to tide over the sizzling heat in the region.

At least drinking water availability should not be a problem for the next two months before the monsoon clouds start hovering above the parched lands, officials said on Tuesday. In the Vidarbha region, the situation looks comfortable in Nagpur as well as Amravati revenue divisions, they said.

In Nagpur division, in 16 major reservoirs, the water level is at 53 per cent of the total capacity while in Amravati division it is 46 per cent. This is better than 35 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively in this period last year, according to the water storage figures. There are 16 medium and 40 small among a total of 366 reservoirs in Nagpur division comprising six districts of Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.

Similarly, in Amravati division of the western part of the region comprising Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Buldana and Washim, there are nine big and 23 small water reservoirs of the total 379.

The storage capacity is 3,891 million cubic metres (mcm) and water available is 1,794 mcm, which is 46 per cent this year. This is far better than 2013's 1,180 mcm (30 per cent) and 1,023 mcm (28 per cent) in 2012 in Nagpur division. Similarly in Amravati division out of storage capacity of 2,914 mcm, the present storage is 1,176 which is 40 per cent against 739 mcm (25 per cent) in 2013 and 629 mcm (21 per cent) in 2012. Buldana district of Vidarbha last year passed through severe drought and the bulk of the drinking water was supplied by tankers.