Marathwada drought man-made, not caused by climate change : Study

The study categorically stated that the flow of irrigation water, exploitation of ground water, and allocation of water for cultivating water-intensive crops such as sugarcane and pulses have to be examined properly. It also said the administration must identify and promote sustainable strategies that adapt to varying rainfall patterns in the region.

The analysis showed that Marathwada is visited by a drought nearly once in six to seven years on an average. While it witnessed 22 such instances between 1871 and 2015, back-to-back droughts occurred five times — in 1876-77, 1920-21, 1971-72, 1984-85 and 2014-15. Interestingly, the region did not witness a single drought between 1940 and 1970, and there were no droughts between 1999 and 2011 despite rainfall slumping below normal levels.

“Neither the rainfall deficit of the 2015 Marathwada monsoon nor the occurrence of two successive years of drought can be considered exceptional behaviour on the part of the weather gods,” the research states. “The current strategies of agriculture and water management, which led to an unacceptably adverse impact on farmers, are obviously inappropriate. Better strategies have to be identified and implemented.”