Warna river runs dry at Kothali, cutting water supply to villages in Shirol and Hatkanangale

Jaysingpur: The Warna riverbed at Kothali in Shirol taluka has been dry for the past four days, creating a serious water crisis. Piped water schemes of several villages that draw from the Kothali weir have stopped completely, and residents are struggling to find drinking water.

Kothali, Umalwad, Jainapur, Nimshirgaon, Chipri, Yadrav and Tardal, along with the Tardal industrial estate, depend on the weir. With the riverbed dry, the wells and jackwells of the water schemes have run dry and pumping has stopped. Farm pumps have also fallen silent, and farmers fear their crops will wither in the harsh sun.

Residents and farmers of Shirol and Hatkanangale talukas had demanded that water be released at once from Chandoli dam on the Warna.

A discharge of 1,100 cusecs has been started from Chandoli dam, and the water should reach Kothali, the last weir on the Warna, in the next two days, after which supply will resume, said V.G. Kolekar, branch engineer of the irrigation department.

Source: Pudhari