Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed officials to implement strict water planning and conservation strategies to ensure ample drinking water supply until August 2026. This directive comes in light of potential disruptions in rainfall due to the El Nino phenomenon. The state currently holds 653.63 thousand million cubic feet of water in its dams, showing an increase from last year’s 551.86 thousand million cubic feet.
Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Deepak Kapoor, during a state Cabinet review, highlighted the risks associated with El Nino and presented data on reservoir levels. Past trends indicate significant storage declines during El Nino years, with levels dropping by 12% in 2014 and around 14% in 2015, leading to widespread shortages. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for citizens to start conserving water immediately to mitigate the impact of a potentially deficient monsoon.
The Chief Minister also stressed the importance of accelerating water conservation projects, enhancing management systems, and revitalizing traditional water sources. This recent review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister is the second high-level meeting this week. Earlier, he had directed departments to enhance disaster preparedness and inter-agency coordination in anticipation of challenges related to El Nino. The Maharashtra government has initiated the “Water Management Action Fortnight” to enhance water management effectiveness through public participation.
