Hollow Heart Of Waterlessness

On May 6, 2019, the Election Com­­mission relaxed the model code of conduct in Maharashtra to enable the government to carry out dro­­ught relief. It indicates the direst of situations. Another sharp indicator is the level of water storage in the state’s dams, which stands at 17.57 per cent, as opposed to 30.02 per cent in 2018.

Water level at dams in Aurangabad region, comprising Marathwada—the parched centre of Maha­rashtra’s fearsome drought—is at 4.93 per cent, as opp­­osed to 25.96 per cent in 2018.