By early December, industrial and agricultural belts of Jalna and Aurangabad are expected to get more relief from acute water shortage. The Jayakwadi dam, the largest water supplier of the region, will receive about 6,500 cusecs of water from the upstream Bhandardara dam.

However, the release of water could also led to inter-regional conflicts, pitting water deficit Marathwada region with water surplus Western and Northern Maharashtra.

Parties across the State have taken positions according to their political conveniences. In Ahmednagar district, where the Bhandardara dam is located, parties have opposed the water supply to Jayakwadi dam saying that their district has not received adequate rainfall during the monsoon.

Water released

A senior Irrigation Department official said that on Thursday that the water was released from the Bhandardara dam amidst tight police security. The water was released for Pravara river and it will travel a distance of over 210 km to reach Jayakwadi, the official said. First priority would be given to agriculture, then others will follow, he said.

“The flow of water from Bhandardara dam is slow; it meanders for a number of kilometres before reaching Jayakwadi dam. It could take four days for the full quantum to reach its destination,” the official said.

Member of Parliament and Shiv Sena leader from Aurangabad, Chandrakant Khaire, said that his party is not keen to play the inter-regional ‘water politics’. He alleged that the fight had been started by a few leaders of the Congress party. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has always maintained that on the issue of water, there should be no politics. But the huge demand for water due to industrialisation around Aurangabad district also cannot be ignored, he said.

>rahul.wadke@thehindu.co.in

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