Maharashtra water department says it has received no central funding for two years

Gulabrao Patil, Maharashtra's Water Supply and Sanitation Minister, claimed the state department has not received any central money since September 2024, a shortfall that has worsened drought conditions across the region. Currently, 700 water tankers operate in Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna and Nashik districts. Patil said most projects are 80-90% finished and could be completed by December, reducing tanker dependence, if the pending funds were released.

He urged Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil, who hails from the state, to look into the matter. The government has already declared drought in 265 of 358 talukas and announced relief measures such as crop loan restructuring and power bill subsidies. A detailed review by region and assembly constituency is being conducted to plan further actions.