Wardha's 11 reservoirs hold only 67% of useful storage, raising fears of pre-summer water shortage

Wardha district received less rain than expected this monsoon, and the shortfall has directly hit water storage in its dams. The district's 11 major and medium reservoirs now hold only 67 per cent useful storage. Last year, all of them were 100 per cent full by the end of October. This year the storage position has become a cause for concern.

There are fears that the district will face a water crisis even before summer begins.

Wardha district has 11 water projects: Bor, Lower Wardha, Dham, Pothra, Panchdhara, Dongargaon, Madan, Madan Unnai, Lal Nala, Wardha Car river and Sukli Laghu. Water from these reservoirs is important for irrigation, for drinking water needs and for providing drinking water to wildlife. As the rain did not oblige this year, many projects have not been able to accumulate adequate storage.

According to the available figures, the useful storage remaining in each project is: Bor 64.44 per cent, Lower Wardha 70.21 per cent, Dham 68.07 per cent, Pothra 80.31 per cent, Panchdhara 36.80 per cent, Dongargaon 57.55 per cent, Madan 20.70 per cent, Madan Unnai 17.93 per cent, Lal Nala 78.54 per cent, Wardha Car river 60.58 per cent and Sukli Laghu 54.92 per cent. In other words, no project has the 100 per cent storage it had last year. Pothra has the highest storage on the list, while Madan Unnai and Madan have the lowest.

The Dham project at Mahakali is of particular importance. It supplies drinking water to Wardha city, Pipri Meghe and 14 surrounding villages. However, as this project too does not have the expected storage, concern is being expressed about water supply in the coming months.

Last year, all 11 reservoirs had 100 per cent useful storage until the end of October. Compared with the present position, the figures make clear how much the rain deficit has mattered.

With reservoir storage so low, both the administration and citizens need to plan water use from now. It is necessary to avoid wasting water, use available water sparingly and give priority to water conservation measures. If that does not happen, the possibility of a more severe water shortage in summer cannot be ruled out.