Despite heavy downpour in western Maharashtra, the situation still remains grim in the drought-hit Marathwada as the region has only received 295 mm rainfall in this season. There has been acute shortage of drinking water in Beed, Latur ,Osmanabad and Jalna districts of Marathwada region. According to officials sources the Divisional Commissioner on Wednesday issued updated water tankers report stating that, due to absence of rain, 1049 water tankers are still supplying water to around 742 villages and 145 hamlets which are having a population of nearly 19.45 lakh.
The administration had acquired 2594 private wells to supply and fill up their water tankers . Beed district which is known as drought prone region registered lowest rainfall of 158 mm and is the most affected area in the region where still 693 water tankers are engaged to supply water to affected 468 villages and 109 hamlet, followed by 178 tankers in Osmanabad district for 124 villages and 7 hamlets, 98 tankers in 88 villages and 18 hamlets in Jalna district, 64 tankers in 56 villages and 7 tankers in 6 villages and 4 hamlets in Aurangabad district, the report read. (UNI)