Manjara Dam Water Levels Rise After Heavy Rains in Marathwada, Vishnupuri Dam Nearly Full

Mumbai: The Manjara dam in Maharashtra’s Beed district, one of the three reservoirs in the Marathwada region where water levels had dropped to “zero per cent,” has begun receiving water following rains in its catchment area, an official reported on Thursday.

Approximately 170 km away, the Vishnupuri dam in Nanded district is about 83 per cent full, and its gates may be opened depending on the inflow of water, another official said.

In addition to Manjara, which supplies water to Latur city, the Sina Kolegaon dam in Dharashiv district and the Majalgaon dam in Beed have also recorded a “zero per cent” stock, according to officials.

“The water stock in Manjara dam reached 0.09 per cent after 0.61 million cubic metres (MCM) of water was added in the morning. Although significant rainfall is still awaited, water inflow into the dam has commenced,” said an official.

On the same date last year (July 25), the dam had a water stock of 22.99 per cent, officials noted.

However, the water supply schedule for Latur city, which currently receives water once every four days, will remain unchanged for now, according to a senior civic official. The water supply situation will depend on rainfall in the Manjara dam’s catchment area in Beed district, an official added.

Meanwhile, the Vishnupuri dam in Nanded district has reached 83 per cent capacity, with its gates expected to be opened depending on water inflow, officials reported. The reservoir is built on the Godavari river.

Irrigation officials have requested the district administration to alert residents living downstream about the rising water levels and the potential opening of the dam gates. Since June 1, the dam has received 57.74 MCM of water, officials said.

The Marathwada region, which includes the districts of Jalna, Aurangabad, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad, and Beed, is closely monitoring the situation.