14 June,2026 08:57 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra`s total usable water storage currently stands at 357.5 TMC, or 25 per cent of capacity, which is lower than the corresponding period last year. Representational Pic
With reservoir levels lower than last year due to deficient rainfall, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil has directed officials to accord the highest priority to ensuring drinking water supply across the state until August 31.
He also ordered strict action against illegal water extraction and called for coordinated efforts to manage available water resources.
The directives were issued during a high-level review meeting held at the Irrigation Building in Pune to assess water storage in reservoirs under the Krishna and Godavari basins and review the monsoon situation.
Senior officials from the Water Resources Department, including representatives of the Krishna Valley Development Corporation and Godavari Irrigation Development Corporation, attended the meeting.
According to officials, Maharashtra's total usable water storage currently stands at 357.5 TMC, or 25 per cent of capacity, which is lower than the corresponding period last year.
The shortfall has been attributed to below-normal rainfall and poor inflows into reservoirs during the current season.
Expressing concern over the situation, Vikhe Patil directed officials to closely monitor water availability, particularly in the Pune region, where storage levels are significantly lower than last year. He stressed that drinking water needs must take precedence over all other uses until reservoir levels improve.
The minister instructed authorities to reserve adequate water to ensure an uninterrupted supply for nearly 8.5 million residents of the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad metropolitan regions until the end of August.
He also ordered an immediate review of water availability in dams, reservoirs and major water sources across Marathwada and the Krishna basin to earmark sufficient reserves for drinking purposes.
To tackle the emerging water challenge, the Water Resources Department, district administrations, municipal corporations, zilla parishads and water supply agencies have been asked to prepare a coordinated action plan focused on water conservation and efficient distribution.
During the review, officials informed the minister that usable water storage stands at 26 per cent in the Nashik region and 28 per cent in Marathwada, where rainfall has remained below expectations. Vikhe Patil directed authorities to carefully regulate water use in these regions and prioritise drinking water requirements.
He further instructed officials to ensure judicious utilisation of water in reservoirs across Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Pune and Marathwada until substantial fresh inflows are received. Given the uncertainty surrounding the progress of the southwest monsoon, district-specific contingency plans focusing on drinking water supply, drought mitigation and protection of water resources will be prepared.
The minister also called for greater public awareness regarding responsible water use and urged local administrations to encourage citizens to utilise available water only for essential purposes.
"Available water must first be used for drinking purposes. To curb illegal water extraction, special enforcement drives should be conducted through joint teams of the Revenue, Police and Water Resources departments," Vikhe Patil said, directing officials to take stringent action against violations.
