Monsoon’s belated arrival has cascaded into the worst water crisis in the state in the last fifteen years.

Till mid-July, which is the peak of monsoon, 2,511-and-odd reservoirs across the state have attributed to only up to 18% of the total stock, while the figure was 40% the same day last year. Neighbouring Pune region appears to be the worst affected, with a stock of 13% against 41% last year.

Urban areas have been getting adequate rains, but there has been absolutely no shower in the catchment areas of lakes and dams. ‘If those areas continue to have inadequate rain, we will have to chalk out a new strategy for transportation of water,’ a senior state government official said.

Only 36% of 158 dams in Konkan are full till now, while in Nagpur region, which had 59% stock last year, the current figure is 35%. In Amravati, the tanks are full up to 28%, while in Nashik, it is merely 19%. Marathwada seems to be the only region which has seen a slight rise in water stock than last year: from 9% to 15%.

Due to the sharp slump in potable water in rural areas, district collectors have been directed to deploy tankers and bullock carts to bring water and the officials have also been provided more financial powers to tackle the shortage. "Now we are depending on the observations of the meteorological department, which has forecast that monsoon will activate in the state in a few days," an official said.

While over a dozen civic bodies have already imposed water cut ranging from 20% to 40%, the irrigation department has directed the dam authorities to release water for drinking purpose. ‘The chief secretary is supervising the situation,’ a senior bureaucrat said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan reviewed the situation a few days ago. ‘Chavan had a video-conference with all the district collectors and chief executive officers of the zilla parishads about the water shortage. While adequate funds have been granted to collectors, the state expects financial assistance from the Centre,’ the bureaucrat said.