Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Latur Collector Orders Crackdown on Illegal Lower Terna Water Use
The Lower Terna reservoir has less water than usual because there was not enough rain this monsoon.
It is holding 21 per cent of its total capacity.
Officials have set aside all the available water for people to drink.
Latur Collector Bharat Bastewad told officials to stop people from taking water illegally for farming.
Teams from several departments will patrol the area.
Officials may also use water in the reservoir’s dead storage if drinking-water supplies require it.
The project supplies towns and villages in Dharashiv and Latur districts.
Latur Collector Bharat Bastewad directed officials to prevent illegal water withdrawals from the Lower Terna project.
The reservoir was at 21 per cent of capacity after a monsoon with insufficient rain.
Its water has been reserved entirely for drinking purposes, not agricultural use.
Bastewad called for joint patrol teams from the water resources, revenue and MSEDCL departments.
Officials were also told to prepare to use the reservoir’s dead storage if needed for drinking water.
- Who
- Latur Collector Bharat Bastewad and officials from the water resources, revenue and MSEDCL departments.
- What
- Officials were directed to prevent illegal withdrawals from the Lower Terna project and protect its water for drinking.
- When
- The report is dated October 3; Bastewad visited the project on Friday and issued the direction on Saturday.
- Where
- The Lower Terna project at Makni, which supplies parts of Dharashiv and Latur districts.
- Why
- The reservoir was at 21 per cent of capacity after a lack of monsoon rain, and its water was reserved for drinking.
- Reservoir
- Lower Terna project
- Reported storage level
- 21 per cent of total capacity
- Water allocation
- Entirely reserved for drinking purposes
- Patrol departments
- Water resources, revenue and MSEDCL
- Potential additional supply
- Dead storage may be used if required to meet drinking-water needs
- Areas supplied
- Several towns and villages in Dharashiv district, plus Nilanga and Ausa towns and 40 villages in Latur district