Maharashtra Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil has directed the administration to prepare and submit realistic, village-wise action plans for potential water scarcity across all stages in the Nagpur, Amravati and Konkan divisions by October 25, IANS reported on Wednesday, October 21.

Addressing a high-level review meeting, Patil evaluated the water supply status, groundwater levels and mitigation measures for potential water scarcity in the three regions. While noting that there is currently no severe water scarcity in these regions, the minister emphasised the need for administrative preparedness ahead of the coming months, according to the report.

"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," Patil said, as reported by IANS.

Drought already declared in 304 talukas

The directives come after the state government had already announced drought in 304 talukas following scanty rainfall and launched 12 mitigation measures, IANS reported. The village-wise plans are meant to identify, in advance, which settlements could face shortages and what local sources and supply options each village will rely on.

Near-complete Jal Jeevan Mission projects to be finished first

Patil also instructed officials to prioritise the completion and operationalisation of drinking-water supply projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission that have reached between 75 per cent and 99 per cent progress. Pending works such as pipeline laying, pump installation, electrical connections and transformer setups for projects in their final stages must be completed on a priority basis, he directed.

Schemes exceeding 75 per cent completion must have their package details verified and certified promptly to ensure smooth funding releases, the minister said. He added that a dedicated plan for strengthening local water sources must be created for potential tanker-dependent villages, so that settlements most at risk are not left waiting for tankers when scarcity bites.

The October 25 submissions will show, village by village, where Maharashtra expects water stress to appear first — and whether the near-complete drinking-water schemes can be switched on before tanker supply becomes the default.