Nashik Municipal Corporation is preparing to seek an additional 1,400 million cubic feet (mcft) of water for the 2026-27 Simhastha Kumbh period, taking its proposed total reservation to around 7,800 mcft as the city prepares for a sharp increase in pilgrims and temporary residents.
The proposed allocation will cover the period from October 15, 2026, to July 31, 2027, compared with the 6,400 mcft allocated to the civic body for 2025-26. District authorities have asked the municipal corporation to submit its requirement for the next reservation period. The revised proposal is expected to be placed before the district water allocation committee, headed by guardian minister and Kumbh Mela minister Girish Mahajan, later this month.
“The city will require additional water considering the Simhastha Kumbh Mela as well as the annual rise in demand,” Ravindra Dharankar, superintending engineer of NMC’s water supply department, said. He added that the civic body was revising its proposal and was likely to seek around 7,800 mcft for the forthcoming reservation period.
During 2025-26, Nashik was allocated 4,600 mcft from Gangapur dam, 1,500 mcft from Mukane dam and 300 mcft from Darna dam. The additional requirement for the Kumbh is intended to support drinking water, sanitation and other essential services as the city accommodates a substantially larger floating population.
The scale of the expected congregation is significantly higher than the previous Kumbh in 2015. Around 2.5 lakh sadhus were accommodated at Sadhugram during the earlier event, while authorities now expect the number to approach 10 lakh. Pilgrim footfall is projected to increase from around 2 crore in 2015 to nearly 8 crore in 2027.
The rise in temporary population is also expected to increase Nashik’s daily water requirement from the current 600 million litres per day (MLD) to nearly 800 MLD during the peak Kumbh period. NMC has begun planning additional water resources and infrastructure to meet the demand, although the proposed reservation will require approval through the district water allocation process.
The formal commencement of the Kumbh is scheduled to be marked by a flag-hoisting ceremony on October 31, 2026. Sadhus are expected to begin arriving at Sadhugram in Tapovan from July 2027 because the first Amrit Snan is scheduled for early August. The three Amrit Snans are planned between August and September 2027.
