Marathwada has seen terrible droughts before. But never before did the two oldest wells in Wadval Nagnath village in Chakur taluka of Latur dry up. These wells have been around over 100 years. About eighty other wells -both old and new -situated in and around Wadval Nagnath, too, have almost dried up. Few borewells are functioning. "The owners have decided not to use the water for their crops and have opened the wells to the public,'' says sarpanch Shilpatai Rajkumar Bendke. The water in the well owned by Annasaheb and Ambadas Patil has turned so muddy that it can't be used for drinking. Raosaheb Bhanje's well is dilapidated but the water is potable. "But it's risky. Sometimes people slip and fall in. But, we manage to rescue them," says Bendke. The village gets two tankers a day to service its population of about 10,000.

Groundwater levels drop in Kolhapur.

Kolhapur: Last year's deficit rainfall has started to have telling effects in Kolhapur district. According to the Ground Water Survey Agency (GSDA), the average groundwater level in the district has dropped by 0.6 metres. Chandgad tehsil in the district has reported a groundwater level depletion by almost a meter. Karvir tehsil, which also covers Kolhapur city, has seen a depletion of 0.8 metres.Kolhapur district is otherwise known for surplus rainfall and even overuse of water for agriculture.

Now, water train from Jalna to Latur Aurangabad: Latur city and nearby areas, which are now getting water from Miraj through train, are likely to get more water from Partur in Jalna district soon. Revenue minister Eknath Khadse said efforts were under way to lift water from Lower Dudhna irrigation project and supply it to Latur by train.

The railway minister has given his consent to facilitate another water train for Latur, Khadse said on Saturday. The water train is expected to have 50 wagons and it is likely to reach Latur in a fortnight, Khadse said.