Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Maharashtra Deploys 611 Tankers as Central Team Assesses Drought
Many parts of Maharashtra are short of water.
Wells, borewells and ponds are drying up, and the monsoon has not brought enough relief.
The state has sent 611 water tankers to 10 districts.
They are bringing water to 517 villages and more than 2,100 hamlets or settlements.
A team from the central government is visiting to learn how serious the drought is.
Officials told the team about rainfall shortages, crop losses, and shortages of drinking water and fodder.
In Beed, authorities are acting against people accused of taking water from storage sites with illegal motors.
In Mumbai, a civic leader has asked why roads were washed with extra water during the shortage.
Maharashtra deployed 611 tankers across 10 drought-affected districts.
The tankers are serving 517 villages and 2,147 hamlets or settlements.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has the largest deployment, with 263 tankers.
A central inter-ministerial team is assessing drought impacts and making field visits.
Mumbai road washing drew questions over water use, while Beed authorities pursued alleged illegal water extraction.
- Who
- Maharashtra authorities, an inter-ministerial central team led by Muktanand Agrawal, and drought-affected residents.
- What
- The state has deployed 611 water tankers as a central team assesses drought conditions and water shortages.
- When
- The article gives no year; the central team’s field visits are scheduled for October 9 and 10.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Washim and Yavatmal.
- Why
- Wells, borewells and ponds are drying up amid a severe water crisis and monsoon delays; the team is assessing drought impacts and needs.
Concerns Over Road Washing
Questions About Water Use
Washing Mumbai roads during water shortages
Concerns Over Road Washing
The road-washing drive was reportedly intended to tackle air pollution and cost the government Rs 8 crore.
Questions About Water Use
A Mumbai civic committee chairman questioned the use of additional water during a severe shortage and sought an explanation of the drive’s effectiveness.
- Tankers deployed
- 611: 15 government-run and 596 privately operated.
- Areas served
- 517 villages and 2,147 hamlets or settlements across 10 districts.
- Most-affected division
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, with 263 tankers.
- Other tanker deployments
- 153 in Ahilyanagar, 111 in Beed and 98 in Solapur.
- Central team field visits
- October 9 and 10 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna and Beed; later visits were planned for Washim and Yavatmal.
- Review meeting
- The central team is to hold wrap-up discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after its four-day statewide survey.
- Beed action
- Authorities registered cases and launched a joint operation against people accused of drawing water with illegal motors.