Over 1,300 observation wells in drought-hit Maharashtra have reported water depletion by more than one meter, Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Babanrao Lonikar Thursday told the Legislative Council. The depletion of more than one meter water level is important because the reduction is compared with the average level of the same wells for the last five years, he said.

As many as 1,318 observation wells have reported water depletion by more than one meter, Lonikar said it in a written reply to a question by Sharad Ranpise (Congress). There are 681 observation wells where water level depletion is between 1-2 meters, the minister said.