Authorities in drought-hit Latur have imposed an order prohibiting the gathering of more than five persons in areas around 20 water storage tanks until May 31 to avoid any possible violence over water.

The District Collector has issued the direction under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code as a preventive measure to tackle possible violence over water around the Latur civic body-run tanks, an official said.

The official said the notified places include all tanker-filling points, public wells, tanker-plying routes and storage tanks in the district.