Marathwada Small, Medium Irrigation Projects Hold Under 45 Percent Water

Water storage in small and medium irrigation projects across Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, remains below 45 per cent of their combined capacity as of August 10, 2026, according to an official report. The low storage levels come at a crucial juncture, with nearly half of August already passed and only 50 days remaining before the monsoon season comes to an end.

The semi-arid region relies heavily on a network of water bodies built across various rivers. In total, the region contains 76 medium irrigation projects and 778 small irrigation projects spread across eight districts: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Nanded, Parbhani, Latur, Hingoli, and Dharashiv.

According to the official figures, the 76 medium irrigation projects in the region are operating at particularly low capacity, recording a storage level of just 21.6 per cent.

In contrast to the smaller and medium-sized reservoirs, major water infrastructure in central Maharashtra is holding higher volumes. The average water storage across 11 mega irrigation projects in the region currently stands at 67.65 per cent.