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Nashik : With reservoir levels currently on par with last year despite a 30% rainfall deficit, water resources department (WRD) has raised concerns over managing drinking and irrigation needs if drought conditions worsen and water releases for agriculture have to be curtailed. Because most canals are not piped, illegal withdrawals had at times reduced downstream flows to a trickle, while the WRD estimates water losses of up to 70% during canal rotations. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nashik | Silver Rate in Nashik | Bank Holidays in Nashik | Public Holidays in Nashik | Petrol Price in Nashik | Diesel Price in Nashik | CNG Price in Nashik | LPG Price in Nashik Stay updated with the latest Nashik news.
However, WRD officials said declining groundwater levels and lack of soil moisture pose a greater challenge than reservoir storage. “We then sought help from the district administration to deploy police round the clock and register criminal cases against farmers involved in water theft,” the officer said. A district water reservation committee meeting chaired by guardian minister Girish Mahajan has finalised water allocations for local bodies and various users, including reservations for drinking and non-drinking purposes. Download the TOI App.
The district administration has appealed to farmers to plan crops based on available water, but officials fear a repeat of the situation witnessed during the 2016 drought. In 2016, when water reserved for drinking purpose was released through the canal for Yeola town, some farmers siphoned off water by drilling holes in the canal and laying pipes to carry it clandestinely to their fields,” the officer said.
The soil is also getting hotter, which may increase demand for irrigation water,” a senior WRD officer said. Officials said the largely earthen canal network is vulnerable to such thefts, with siphons inserted through canal shoulders and beds capable of drawing water over distances of 2km to 5km. “Although dams are full, groundwater levels are falling and soil moisture is low, which could create problems for rabi crops. “Farmers will want the survival of crops for which they will tap water flowing through canals.