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MUMBAI: While intense summer is still a long way off, the drought-hit Latur Osmanabad and Beed districts are witnessing the highest-ever migration of labourers and villagers due to acute shortage of drinking water , which has led to closure of a large number of industries, shops and establishments.While Latur collector Pandurang Pol said he was in the dark about the large-scale migration, according to reports, in less than a week, an estimated 50,000 people from the district have shifted to Aurangabad and Pune in search of daily wage. “Entire Latur is reeling under acute water shortage. We supply drinking water once every 15 days while for other purposes, once every 10 days. I have no information on migration of people,” Pol told TOI.A senior bureaucrat admitted that a large number of workers from Latur, Osmanabad and Beed, the worst-affected districts in Marathwada region, have migrated to neighbouring districts in search of jobs. “Due to non-availability of water, most industries, shops and establishments are shut for an indefinite period. Our information is that an estimated 1.5 lakh people have shifted from these districts in search of jobs.”The bureaucrat said the situation will be more critical in March, April and May. “Water stock in the Jaikwadi irrigation project will not last beyond 30 days. In that event, water will have to be transported to most districts by the railways.”He said water is being supplied to a large number of villages by tankers. After Aurangabad, most tankers have been deployed in Nanded, followed by Osmanabad and Latur, hometown of former chief minister, late Vilasrao Deshmukh. Out of 1,640 tankers deployed in Marathwada, 243 are for supplying water to Nanded, 241 for Osmanabad and 166 for Latur. “Industrial activity in most districts has come to a standstill due to non-availability of water.”Water conservation secretary Prabhakar Deshmukh said considering the drought in parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada, the state government has ensured that jobs are available under the employment guarantee scheme (EGS). “We have ensured that whosoever comes for work under EGS is provided job on a daily basis as per rules. Massive attendance on EGS reflects the drought’s gravity.” Deshmukh added some 4.5 lakh persons have been given employment for 31,500 works while last week, there were four lakh persons on 26,000 jobs. “In view of the drought, we will ensure that maximum number of persons are given work under EGS.”