Nashik: Some civic bodies in Nashik, including municipal councils, which have direct agreement with the state government for drinking water and reservation in water bodies, have sought more reservation for drinking water this year.The meeting on reservation of water for drinking and non-drinking purposes was held in October. It was chaired by district guardian minister Dada Bhuse who failed to reach a consensus on water reservation demand after the MLAs wanted the water stock in dams to be worked out and the water be reserved till the end of August next year.Accordingly, all civic bodies were told to rework on their demands for water as they would require water till August 31, instead of July 31, 2024, just in case the monsoon was delayed further.The planning for water starts post-monsoon from the October of the current year to July or August next year.The meeting chaired by guardian minister decided to meet again after the demands were updated. We have received more demand for water from some civic bodies and they have sought a hike in reservation by about 10 percent. The overall numbers are yet to be finalised, said a senior officer from the district administration. The total demand for water with government approval is 13.9 TMC for all the municipal councils, regional water supply schemes and others. The increase in demand registered so far is 0.8 TMC and is likely to reach 1.5 TMC. Such demands are likely to come up in May, but the rural water supply considers these arrangements and places the demand with the district level committee. The demand is likely to increase from the current figures of 0.5 TMC to 08.8 TMC or even more.The spike in demand will be witnessed because there is less water on the ground and at the same time the duration of additional one month — August — will have to be considered. These demands will be presented before the district level committee after which a decision on reservation of water will be taken, the officer said.We also published the following articles recentlyEncroachments eat into Coimbatores water bodiesDespite heavy rainfall this monsoon, several water bodies in Coimbatore are in urgent need of attention. Many have not been desilted for years and their inlet and outlet channels are clogged. Encroachments and poor maintenance have also caused some water bodies to shrink. The encroachment of Selvachinthamani Lake has led to the shrinking of the canal, while the wetlands surrounding the lake have been converted into residential areas. The Vellalore Lake and Sengulam are facing similar problems, with culverts being clogged and canals narrowing. Pollution from sewage water mixing is also a concern. The installation of sewage treatment plants and the completion of the underground sewerage scheme project are expected to address these issues.No irrigation water for Rabi crop in Krishna, NTR districtsAuthorities in Krishna and NTR districts in Andhra Pradesh have decided not to supply water for the Rabi crop due to drought conditions. The decision will impact farmers in the region, which is known as the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh. Officials have urged farmers to cultivate crops that require less water, such as black gram, chilli, and toor dal. Several mandals have been declared as drought-hit due to poor rainfall.Water released from Papanasam dam in TirunelveliWater from the Papanasam dam in Tirunelveli district, India, has been released for irrigation in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. The water will be used for cultivation on over 86,000 acres of land for a period of 136 days. The state government has ordered the release of water from other dams as well. The water will be distributed through various canals, benefiting several blocks in both districts. Farmers are urged to use the water wisely and support the water resource department officials.

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