Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The district is beginning to face the impact of water scarcity due to the increasing heat. Fifteen villages in four tehsils of the district are experiencing water shortages. Currently, 35,000 people are relying on tanker water for their drinking needs. As tanker-based water supply has become necessary in March itself, the administration has issued instructions to prepare a revised drought plan.
Water supply is currently being provided through 17 tankers in 35 trips across 15 villages in the tehsils of Gangapur, Vaijapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Phulambri. Tanker proposals for these villages were submitted between February 25 and March 11, and the administration has approved them in phases. In 2018-19, the number of tankers in the district had reached 1,200, and a similar situation is likely to arise this year.
Drought impact in various tehsils
Vaijapur Tehsil: 9 villages are facing water scarcity.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Tehsil: 5 villages are now dependent on tankers.
Number of villages affected in each tehsil?
Gangapur: 1 tanker in Shankarpur.
Vaijapur: 1 tanker in each of the following villages: Sawkhed, Khandala, Daskuli, Tidi, Aghur, Loni (B), Aghur Station, Malisagaj, Makramatpur, and Kanaksagaj.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: 1 tanker in each of the following villages: Wahegaon’s Ramainagar, Gadhekar Vasti, Wadachiwadi, Nagonyachiwadi, Demani, Korhal, Hirapurwadi, and New Hirapur.
Phulambri: 2 tankers in Babra
Increasing heat leads to water scarcity
The scorching heat in March has intensified the water shortage. On Monday, the maximum temperature reached 37.2°C, and the minimum temperature was 22.8°C. Due to the rise in minimum temperature, the atmosphere felt more humid and stifling. The heat was intense from 12 pm to 4 pm. The maximum temperature exceeded 37°C for about eight days in March.