Farmers living along the Bhima River in Maharashtra have asked the state government to immediately release water from Ujani Dam, saying the dry riverbed is threatening crops, drinking-water access and livestock. The Bhima River Rescue Committee and farmers submitted a representation to Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharne at Indapur on Sunday, October 18.
The farmers said agricultural planning in several villages along the river depends on the availability of water in the Bhima. With the riverbed currently dry, they are facing uncertainty over how to irrigate standing crops and plan upcoming cultivation. The shortage has also increased the responsibility of arranging drinking water for households and animals.
According to the representation, water available in Ujani Dam should be assessed and managed so that it can be released into the Bhima according to the requirements of riverbank villages. The farmers said the lack of water was affecting routine agricultural work and raising the risk of crop losses and financial hardship.
The demand comes amid concerns that a temporary release alone will not resolve the wider problem. The Bhima River Rescue Committee has asked the authorities to prepare a water-management plan based on the needs of farms along the river and publish a clear schedule for releases and distribution.
The group has also sought permanent measures to ensure regular water availability for farmers in the riverbank villages. It asked Minister Bharne to discuss the matter with officials of the Water Resources Department and press for an urgent decision on releasing water according to local requirements.
The committee said that restoring water to the river could help address agricultural needs as well as drinking-water and livestock requirements. Its representation was signed by Ashok Magar, Tukaram Ghogare, Dnyandev Bagal, Mahadev Shinde and Suresh Shinde.
The immediate issue is linked to how water stored in Ujani Dam is planned and distributed among competing needs. Farmers have specifically requested that the release decision be supported by a publicly announced timetable rather than treated as a one-time response. The report does not specify the quantity of water currently available in Ujani Dam, the volume sought by the farmers or a confirmed release date.
The next step requested by the farmers is a decision by the Water Resources Department after consultations with the Agriculture Minister. Until such a decision is announced, cultivation, household water access and livestock needs along the affected stretch of the Bhima remain dependent on the department’s water-release planning.
