Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Fadnavis Unveils Maharashtra River-Linking Plan to Fight Drought
Maharashtra is facing a serious shortage of water, and many crops have been damaged.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a large plan to improve the state’s water supply.
The plan includes connecting rivers and moving extra floodwater to drier areas.
One project would connect the Vainganga and Nalganga rivers and create about 500 kilometres of new river system.
Another plan would move some water from areas that receive floods to Marathwada.
The government also wants to use water that currently flows into the sea.
It plans to recycle used water and build desalination plants near Mumbai.
The whole programme could cost Rs 2.5 lakh crore and take about seven years.
Fadnavis said the goal is for future generations to face fewer droughts.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a plan to create a 500-km river system in Maharashtra.
The programme is estimated to cost Rs 2.5 lakh crore and take about seven years to complete.
The Vainganga-Nalganga link is intended to address drought in the Vidarbha region.
Floodwater from Sangli and Kolhapur may be diverted toward Marathwada, including 35 TMC for three districts.
Maharashtra also plans 1,000 MLD of desalination capacity, with completion targeted by 2029-30.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state government.
- What
- A proposed water-management programme involving river linking, floodwater diversion, water recycling and desalination.
- When
- Work on the Vainganga-Nalganga project is expected to begin this year; the broader projects are expected to take about seven years, while desalination capacity is targeted for 2029-30.
- Where
- Across Maharashtra, including Vidarbha, Marathwada, the Sangli and Kolhapur regions, the Ulhas Basin, the Godavari Valley and Mumbai.
- Why
- To address drought, improve water availability for agriculture, cities and industry, and reduce future drought-relief costs.
- Estimated investment
- Rs 2.5 lakh crore
- Proposed new river system
- About 500 kilometres
- Project timeline
- About seven years
- Vainganga-Nalganga objective
- Help make the Vidarbha region drought-free
- Floodwater plan
- About 100 TMC would be handled through flood mitigation, with 35 TMC directed to three Marathwada districts
- Desalination target
- 1,000 MLD by 2029-30; 400 MLD has started and 600 MLD is planned
- Water recycling
- Around 1,000 million litres per day of used water is being targeted for recycling