Locals Come Together to Desilt Two Rivers and Prevent Drought

Latur (Maharashtra): Latur in Marathwada region of Maharashtra, which had become the face of the unprecedented drought and water scarcity in the state this summer, is now emerging as a role model for collective effort to revive the rivers.

Residents of the city in the last two to three months collected more than Rs six crore to desilt Manjara and Rena rivers. District Collector Pandurang Pol said with this desilting through people’s participation, the two rivers now have enough water in the reservoirs along their courses to last for at least another eight months. The district hit national headlines when the government started providing water by railway wagons to Latur town from the second week of April.

While the government was busy supplying water, the locals decided to take the matters in their own hand to make the city drought-proof in coming years. Social activists Mahadev Gomare, Dr Ashok Kukade, B B Thombare, Makrand Jadhav and Trimbakdas Zawar formed ‘Jalyukta Latur’ committee. “We called a meeting of all the major associations of traders and professionals, convinced them about need of public participation to resolve our own issues, registered our committee and started collecting funds,” Gomare said.

PTI