Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jul 28: In a much-needed turn of fortune for the drought-prone Marathwada region, the Jayakwadi major irrigation project has recorded a live storage of 83% by Sunday evening—thanks to sustained rainfall in its catchment and strong inflows from upstream areas.

The Nathsagar reservoir, part of the Jayakwadi dam system, was receiving a healthy inflow of 18,965 cusecs as of 6 PM, as per official reports. This marks a dramatic improvement compared to the same time last year, when the dam's live storage had dwindled to just 5%.

At present, water is being released only through the right canal at a controlled rate of 1,100 cusecs. The left canal remains shut, a decision taken in consultation with farmers in the command area.

“There wasn’t enough rainfall earlier in the season, so the right canal release was aimed at supporting kharif crops,” said Mangesh Shelar, the official overseeing the dam’s operations. “We’ll continue adjusting the water release based on rainfall patterns and upstream inflows.”

A Broader Regional Recovery

The Jayakwadi dam isn’t the only project benefitting from the recent monsoon revival. A total of 11 major irrigation projects across Marathwada have seen collective live storage rise to 68%—a significant leap from the 18% recorded during the same period last year.

This upswing in water availability offers a much-needed boost to the region’s agriculture, which is heavily reliant on canal irrigation and seasonal rainfall.

As the monsoon continues to strengthen across central Maharashtra, authorities are expected to manage dam releases with care, balancing crop needs, drinking water supply, and flood control.

With storage levels improving steadily, Marathwada's farming community is hopeful that the tide is finally turning in their favour this season.