Maharashtra Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil on Monday, 21 October directed district administrations to prepare and submit realistic, village-wise action plans for potential water scarcity — covering all preparedness stages — across the Nagpur, Amravati, and Konkan divisions by 25 October. The directive follows the state government's earlier declaration of drought in 304 talukas and the rollout of 12 mitigation measures in response to scanty rainfall.

What the Minister Directed

Addressing a high-level review meeting, Minister Patil evaluated water supply status, groundwater levels, and mitigation readiness across the three divisions. While he noted that no severe water scarcity currently exists in these regions, he stressed the urgency of administrative preparedness ahead of the coming months. “The administration must remain proactive. Action plans should be framed based on ground-level inspections and extensive consultations with public representatives, sarpanches, gram panchayats, and local officials,” he said.

He further instructed that action plans for villages potentially dependent on water tankers must include a dedicated strategy for strengthening local water sources — with tanker deployment to serve only as a last resort, preceded by mandatory cleaning and disinfection of available public wells.

Jal Jeevan Mission Projects in Focus

Minister Patil also directed officials to prioritise the completion and operationalisation of drinking water supply projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission that have reached between 75% and 99% completion. Pending works including pipeline laying, pump installation, electrical connections, and transformer setups must be finished on a priority basis.

Schemes exceeding 75% completion must have their package details verified and certified promptly to ensure smooth funding releases. Fixed timelines are to be set for handing over completed and successfully tested water supply schemes to Zilla Parishads or Gram Panchayats. In cases of delay by local bodies in accepting projects, formal proceedings will follow state policy guidelines.

Groundwater Recharge and Funding Provisions

Authorities have been asked to utilise 2% of District Planning Committee (DPC) funds primarily for source augmentation. Groundwater recharge works — including well recharging, farm ponds, cement bandharas, cement plugs, continuous contour trenches (CCT), and repairs of older bunds — are to be carried out by drawing on District Planning, Mining, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

The minister emphasised efficient water budget planning and disciplined conservation practices, directing officials to focus on rejuvenating local water sources rather than defaulting to tanker-based solutions.

Accountability and Complaint Response

Minister Patil issued strict instructions that officers must immediately visit villages and take necessary action whenever complaints regarding water scarcity surface or media reports highlight local distress. Zilla Parishads and Gram Panchayats are expected to handle operation, maintenance, and electricity billing effectively. Local officials were advised to coordinate directly with District Collectors and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to resolve persistent transformer or power connection issues.

With the 25 October deadline now in place, the administration across all three divisions faces a narrow window to translate field-level assessments into actionable preparedness frameworks before potential scarcity conditions intensify.