Resolve for a Water-Secure Maharashtra with Support of Paani Foundation: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, March 2026: Devendra Fadnavis called for strengthening water conservation efforts in the state with the continued support of the Paani Foundation. He said the foundation has played an important role in the field of water conservation and has helped reduce the severity of drought in the state through its collaboration with the government.

Speaking at a meeting held at Mantralaya, where a presentation on the foundation’s water conservation initiatives was made, the Chief Minister urged officials and stakeholders to work together to build a water-secure Maharashtra.

The meeting was attended by senior officials including Vikas Chandra Rastogi, Eknath Dawale, and Parimal Singh. Also present were Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, Satyajit Bhatkal, as well as Amit Chandra and Vilas Shinde. Vice-chancellors of agricultural universities and officials from the Agriculture Department also joined the meeting through video conferencing.

During the discussion, the Chief Minister noted that several climate research organisations have predicted the possible impact of El Niño this year. Considering this possibility, he advised planning water conservation work assuming that the state may receive only around 80 percent of normal rainfall.

Fadnavis said that based on the previous experience of working with the Paani Foundation, farmers and villagers are expected to become more water-literate through the foundation’s initiatives this year as well. He emphasised that recognising the importance of water and promoting awareness about its conservation is crucial for sustainable development.

The Chief Minister also instructed government departments to extend full support to the foundation’s initiatives and ensure that the necessary support systems are in place. He suggested that the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Department should also be actively involved in the water conservation work being undertaken by the foundation.

To maintain the quality and effectiveness of the initiatives carried out through the Paani Foundation, Fadnavis said there is a need for a proper monitoring and verification mechanism, as requested by the organisation. He directed that such a system should include agricultural assistants and personnel associated with the Rural Development Department’s UMED mission to ensure effective implementation.

During the meeting, Satyajit Bhatkal presented a detailed overview of the organisation’s water conservation work. Founders Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, along with Amit Chandra, also shared their views on strengthening water conservation initiatives in the state.

According to the foundation, 13,121 government officials across the state have registered as volunteer mentors for training programmes related to water conservation. Additionally, 16,260 farmers have participated in residential training programmes under the Farmer Cup initiative, with 57.56 percent of the participants being women farmers.

The foundation also reported that 11,095 facilitators have registered to support community-level participation in water conservation activities.

The initiative aims to strengthen community participation, increase awareness about sustainable water management, and ensure long-term solutions to drought-related challenges in Maharashtra.