The Maharashtra government on Monday, 26 October 2026, directed district authorities to undertake comprehensive soil and water conservation works across 304 talukas where drought triggers were activated during the 2026 kharif season. The directive mandates construction of at least 100 water absorption pits in every village, alongside desilting of water bodies and repair of check dams, as the state moves to shore up crumbling water infrastructure in its most drought-vulnerable regions.

What the Government Resolution Mandates

A Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Soil and Water Conservation Department outlines a multi-pronged approach to address water scarcity caused by inadequate rainfall during the kharif season. Field officials have been directed to complete ongoing and incomplete works under existing departmental schemes, and to repair damaged soil and water conservation structures across the affected tehsils.

The GR specifically mandates the installation of gates or planks on weirs and check dams to retain water, with periodic inspections to ensure compliance. Authorities must also repair damaged Kolhapur-type weirs by installing needles, remove silt from water storage structures, and deepen and widen streams in villages across the affected areas. Construction of sandbag check dams, temporary earthen check dams, and recharge shafts at stream-deepening sites, dams, and ponds has also been ordered.

Key Interventions and Infrastructure Measures

Beyond structural repairs, the government has asked officials to install rainwater harvesting systems in both government and private buildings across the drought-affected zones. The GR also calls for the effective implementation of conservation works undertaken through voluntary organisations, including Paani Foundation, Naam Foundation, Tata Trusts, and Chandra Foundation.

Field officials have been directed to prioritise repair works based on updated information available on the JalDarpan app, a digital platform that records structures requiring maintenance. District collectors have been granted authority to approve eligible repair works costing less than ₹25 lakh, subject to prescribed financial norms and a ceiling of 20 per cent of applicable financial standards.

Funding Sources Identified

The government has identified multiple funding streams to finance the conservation drive. These include the Jal Yukta Shivar Abhiyan 2.0, the watershed development component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana 2.0, district planning committee funds, special component schemes, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe sub-plans, Tanda development schemes, and the Mineral Development Fund. Funds from MPs', MLAs', and MLCs' local area development budgets, corporate social responsibility contributions, and allocations under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme have also been earmarked.

Background and State-Level Response

The GR follows the state government's earlier decisions to formally declare drought and extend relief measures across the 304 tehsils where both Trigger-1 and Trigger-2 thresholds were breached during the 2026 kharif season. These measures are in addition to 12 mitigation steps already initiated by the state to tackle the drought. Notably, the government has also constituted a state-level task force under the Chief Secretary to coordinate water conservation efforts, given the possibility of an El Niño impact compounding the situation in the months ahead.

This coordinated push signals that Maharashtra is bracing for a prolonged dry spell, with the administration's immediate focus shifting from relief distribution to building long-term water resilience at the village level.