Maharashtra water-cut order: Nagpur restricts non-essential use

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is preparing to rationalise water distribution, curb wastage and act against unauthorised connections ahead of a 10 per cent water-supply reduction scheduled to begin on October 16 under a Maharashtra government directive.

The reduction forms part of a wider state-level water-management measure covering urban local bodies. The Nagpur civic administration is now preparing measures to reserve available supplies for drinking water and other essential requirements.

Nagpur receives approximately 740 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water. Of this, around 520 MLD comes from the Totladoh reservoir through the Pench system, while 220 MLD comes from the Kanhan river, reported The Times of India.

A 10 per cent reduction would mean a decrease of approximately 74 MLD in the city’s daily supply.

Municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar chaired a review meeting on Saturday to finalise the conservation measures. Builders and developers will be required to use recycled water for construction instead of treated drinking water.

The use of treated drinking water for gardening and vehicle washing will also be prohibited. Groundwater may be used for gardening where it is available.

NMC has directed its garden department to use treated sewage water from sewage treatment plants across the city’s 204 gardens.

The civic administration will also investigate unauthorised water connections and take action against illegal users.

The measures are intended to reduce avoidable consumption and improve the availability of water for essential purposes as the statewide reduction takes effect.

Nagpur’s distribution system will need to accommodate the lower allocation while maintaining essential supply to households and other priority users. The enforcement measures will focus on reducing waste and shifting suitable non-drinking uses to recycled water.