13 October,2026 10:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra minister and Nanded Guardian Minister Atul Save reviews the water situation in Nanded on Tuesday.
Maharashtra minister and Nanded Guardian Minister Atul Save has directed the district administration to plan drinking water supply until August 31, 2027, amid concerns over a possible water shortage due to drought-like conditions in the state.
At a meeting of the district-level monitoring committee held online at Mantralaya, Save instructed officials to reserve at least 10 per cent of the available live water storage in every major reservoir as an emergency buffer. The reserve will be used to tackle unexpected rainfall deficits, prolonged dry spells and other emergencies.
Nanded district's 104 water projects currently have a combined water stock of 68 per cent, according to information presented at the meeting.
Save directed the administration to plan drinking water distribution carefully and ensure that adequate reserves are maintained to meet the district's requirements. Officials also reviewed the available usable water stock and dead storage levels in major, medium and minor water projects across the district.
The minister instructed authorities to avoid using drinking water for maintaining gardens and stadiums in the city. He also asked industrial estates to ensure 30 per cent water reuse to reduce pressure on available resources.
The district administration was directed to take immediate action against illegal water connections, while the municipal corporation was asked to curb water leakage within its jurisdiction.
Save directed officials to identify villages likely to face severe water scarcity during March and April and prepare plans for supplying water through tankers wherever necessary.
The administration was also asked to review the water scarcity situation every month and conduct public awareness campaigns to encourage water conservation.
Nanded District Collector Rahul Kardile, Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Doiphode, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Ajinkya Satam and Irrigation Department Executive Engineer EM Chishti were among those who attended the meeting.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has appealed to Mumbai residents to conserve water amid concerns over the availability of water in the seven lakes supplying the city.
The civic body said below-average rainfall in 2026, influenced by climate factors such as El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), has affected the available water stock.
The appeal comes as Mumbai continues to face a gap between its daily water requirement and actual supply. The city and its suburbs require around 4,664 million litres of water per day (MLD), while the average supply from available sources stands at approximately 4,100 MLD.
The BMC has urged citizens to use drinking water judiciously, avoid wastage and adopt conservation measures in their daily lives to ensure that the available reservoir stock lasts longer.
