Of Maharashtra's 358 talukas, 305 have been declared drought-affected following poor rainfall. Patil asked officials to inspect affected areas and consult elected representatives and gram panchayats while preparing the plans.A farmer checks his crops at a partially dried up paddy land.

Maharashtra Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil on Wednesday directed officials to prepare village-level plans by October 25 to tackle possible water shortages in the Nagpur, Amravati and Konkan divisions.At a review meeting in Mumbai, Patil said the administration must remain prepared despite the absence of a severe shortage in these regions. Water tankers should be deployed only as a last resort, he said.Of Maharashtra’s 358 talukas, 305 have been declared drought-affected following poor rainfall.Patil asked officials to inspect affected areas and consult elected representatives and gram panchayats while preparing the plans.

COMPLETE WATER SUPPLY SCHEMESThe minister directed officials to prioritise Jal Jeevan Mission schemes that are 75 to 99 per cent complete. Pending work on pipelines, pumps, electricity connections and transformers must be finished urgently.Documentation and certification for schemes more than 75 per cent complete should also be finalised to prevent delays in releasing funds, he said.

Completed schemes that have undergone successful trials must be handed over to zilla parishads or gram panchayats within fixed timelines. These bodies must operate and maintain the schemes and pay electricity bills.STRENGTHEN LOCAL WATER SOURCESPatil sought separate plans for villages likely to need tankers, with priority given to recharging wells, building farm ponds and check dams, digging contour trenches and repairing existing structures.He said funds under the District Planning Committee’s two per cent allocation should be used to strengthen water sources.

District planning, mineral development and corporate social responsibility funds could support other necessary work.Before deploying tankers, officials must clean and disinfect wells, revive local sources, plan water distribution and encourage careful use of water.Patil also directed officials to visit villages and act on complaints and media reports of water scarcity.- Ends