Malkhed lake at 81.23% capacity, Chandur Railway rabi farmers uncertain about irrigation

Erratic rain this year has added to farmers' troubles. Kharif crops suffered because of deficient rainfall, and farmers now face the question of how to save their rabi crops. With the sowing season for wheat and gram approaching, the Malkhed lake, on which farmers in Chandur Railway town and surrounding areas depend, holds only 81.23 per cent of its capacity this time. Uncertainty therefore persists over whether irrigation water will be available for rabi crops.

Every rabi season, water from Malkhed lake is supplied for irrigation to fields in Chandur Part 1, Manjarkhed, Baslapur, Dhanora Mhali, Shivni and nearby areas. The water is released from the lake through small distributaries. If the lake is not full, irrigation is arranged through only two or three distributaries, depending on the available storage. This time, limited water is set to make irrigation planning harder.

It is not yet clear how much water will remain for farming after the reserve needed for the town's drinking water is set aside, how many distributaries will be operated and how much area will benefit. Farmers, already under financial strain from kharif losses and rising costs, want a firm assurance of water before spending on rabi sowing. They fear that if irrigation water does not arrive after they invest in sowing, seed and fertiliser, the financial crisis will deepen.

The town's drinking water needs are on one side and the demand for irrigation for rabi crops on the other, and the administration will have to deal with this dual challenge. Farmers who suffered losses in kharif are now pinning their hopes on rabi crops. If uncertainty over irrigation water continues, the sown area and likely yield could also be affected. Farmers are therefore awaiting the Water Resources Department's decision.

Vinay Munne, sub-divisional officer of the irrigation department, said a plan is under way to supply water from Malkhed lake for crops. According to him, because the storage is low, a plan to release water can be made only after farmers' demand is received. He said a meeting of the presidents of water user associations will be held soon to decide further arrangements. Farmers have also been asked to grow crops that need less water, in view of the drought-like situation.