Maharashtra faces the tough challenge of using water either for drinking or for industries

Everyone is aware of the severe drought conditions in Maharashtra, because of which several matches of the ongoing IPL have also shifted outside the state. In these alarming conditions, the government has rationed water to the beer industry and is also keeping an eye on the use of water for sugarcane, known to take up a lot of water.

A few weeks ago, the Maharashta state assembly also spent a considerable time talking about the sugar mills in Latur, one of the worse drought-affected regions, and if it was okay for the mills there to use water for crushing sugarcane.

"Rather than the sugar mills, it is the sugarcane which probably uses more water. The mills nowadays use water in sugarcane for their operations, and sugarcane farmers should shift to drip irrigation. However, we cannot tell farmers not to cultivate sugarcane without making alternative crops such as pulses or soyabean equally remunerative for them," Latur-based Atul Deulgaonkar, who specialises in environmental studies, told ET.

Sugarcane has been blamed for misusing water for a long time now, but now the beer industry in Aurangabad, housing famous brands like Foster's, Carlsberg and Heineken, has also come under the ministry’s prying eyes for its water use.

The water supply to the beer industry has already been cut by 20% instead of the earlier 10% cut. However, a minister from the state's cabinet has told ET that the Maharashtra government had entered into agreements which would reserve water that is used for making beer.

As of now, Aurangabad uses water from the dead pool of Jayakwadi, one of the largest reservoirs in India, and irrigation officials are confident that the reservoir holds enough water for at least the next three months.

On the other hand, locals employed in beer factories are also worried about their jobs in case the factories decide to shut down or shift from there. "People are not migrating from drought-hit villages because there's no water to drink, but because they do not have any work," said a farmer from Marathwada region, who did not wish to be identified.

However, people of Maharashtra are more worried about the availability of drinking water than for industrial purpose, given the acute shortage of water in most regions of the state.

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