Maharashtra has ordered urban and rural local bodies, including municipal corporations, to impose a 10% cut in water consumption from October 16 as drought conditions and the El Nino factor threaten to stretch water stress into next year. The conservation measures are intended to preserve available supplies until August 31, 2027, according to a government resolution issued by the state water resources department.
The order directs local authorities to reduce consumption while allowing supplies to be increased depending on water availability up to August 31, 2027. It also requires 10% of the fresh water stored in each major reservoir to be maintained as an emergency reserve.
“Drinking water will be the main priority. Water will be released for irrigation only after meeting drinking water, livestock and fodder requirements,” water resources minister Girish Mahajan said, according to the report.
The government has instructed authorities to prioritise drinking water before releasing supplies for irrigation. If water remains surplus after these requirements, rabi paddy cultivation will receive priority, followed by other seasonal crops and, lastly, perennial crops.
Industries have been asked to develop facilities to reuse or recycle 30% of their total water consumption. The resolution says treated wastewater should be used for public gardens, orchards, allotments and other green areas. Recycled or treated water is also to be considered for construction, industrial processes, washing, gardens and other non-potable uses.
The measures extend to action against unauthorised extraction. A special campaign is to be launched to stop illegal withdrawal of water from reservoirs, canals, rivers, lakes and other sources. Joint teams comprising Revenue, Police and Water Resources officials will conduct regular inspections and patrols. Unauthorised vehicles, pipelines, pumps and other equipment used for extraction are to be seized, with strict action taken against those responsible.
The resolution also addresses reservoirs where fresh water reserves have been exhausted or are insufficient. Authorities have been told to examine whether dead water reserves can be used for fresh water, while considering land safety, the technical feasibility of irrigation and other technical factors.
Water allocation plans will be handled through different administrative mechanisms depending on the scale of the project. For major projects covering more than one district, the Canal Advisory Committee, chaired by the water resources minister, will finalise the water utilisation plan. For other major, medium and small projects, the plan will be finalised by a Monitoring Committee chaired by the relevant guardian minister.
The order places municipal corporations and other local bodies at the centre of the immediate response, requiring them to implement the 10% reduction by October 16. The state’s stated objective is to preserve drinking-water reserves and manage competing urban, industrial, agricultural and livestock demands through August 31, 2027.
