Maharashtra orders statewide 10% water cut from October 16

The Maharashtra government has ordered a minimum 10 per cent water cut across all urban and rural areas starting 16 October, after a deficient monsoon left reservoirs depleted and raised fears of a prolonged drought.

The directive applies to all municipal corporations, municipalities, and gram panchayats. Faced with the threat of El Niño extending its grip, state authorities have taken the unusual step of drawing up water budgets that stretch all the way to 31 August 2027.

Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said the government is planning years in advance to protect drinking water reserves, rather than simply hoping the next monsoon will make up the shortfall. The state has already declared drought in 265 talukas.

How the water rationing will work

Under the new conservation rules, drinking water has been given absolute priority. Dams and reservoirs will hold back enough drinking water to last through August 2027, after factoring in losses from evaporation, silt accumulation, and illegal siphoning.

Each dam will also maintain an additional 10 per cent emergency buffer. In extreme circumstances, engineers may tap into the "dead storage" at the bottom of reservoirs, though only after a formal technical assessment.

The state is also rationing water for agriculture. Farmers will only get water for irrigation after drinking water, livestock, and fodder requirements are met. Within agriculture, Rabi foodgrains and fodder crops will get priority, while perennial crops will only receive water if supplies permit.

Crackdown on leaks and theft

To stretch existing stocks, the state is ordering a crackdown on waste and illegal use. Industries must now recycle or reuse at least 30 per cent of the water they consume.

Local bodies have been instructed to hunt down leaks and run sewage treatment plants at full capacity. This treated wastewater must be used instead of fresh water for construction, gardening, and washing.

At the same time, authorities are targeting water theft. Unauthorised extraction from dams, canals, and rivers has been blamed for eating into reserves. To stop this, joint teams of water resources, revenue, and police officials will patrol vulnerable waterways to seize illegal pumps and siphoning equipment.

Mahajan appealed to the public to use water judiciously, noting that multiple government departments, including agriculture, industries, and urban development, are coordinating to manage the looming shortage.