MoU Signed Between Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited
Mumbai, Aug 2026 : Maharashtra will implement river-linking projects to make all parts of the state drought-free through integrated water management. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that work on the river-linking project would begin this year or early next year after receiving approval from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
Fadnavis was speaking at an event organised to mark the 21st anniversary of the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA). Water Resources Minister (Vidarbha, Tapi and Konkan Valley Development Corporations) Girish Mahajan, Water Resources Minister (Godavari and Krishna Valley Development Corporations) Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Eknath Davle, MWRRA Chairperson Shwetali Thakare, members of the authority, and senior officials and engineers of the Water Resources Department were present.
Linking Rivers to Address Water Deficit
Chief Minister Fadnavis said that diverting water from west-flowing rivers, which currently flows into the sea, to the Godavari basin through various projects would help balance water-deficit basins in North Maharashtra and Marathwada.
He said the vision of making these regions drought-free was gradually moving towards reality. Some projects have already received approval, while others are at the Detailed Project Report stage. Maharashtra, he said, is the first state in the country to undertake work on such an integrated scale.
Fadnavis said the state government was working to ensure adequate water for agriculture, drinking purposes and industries. River-linking projects are particularly important for transferring water from water-surplus basins to deficit basins.
The government is also planning to commence work on various approved river-linking projects, including the Wainganga-Nalganga project. These initiatives are expected to ensure adequate water availability even in drought-prone areas.
Maharashtra was the first state in the country to establish a Water Resources Regulatory Authority. The integrated water planning process began with the preparation of a plan for the Godavari basin, which has the largest geographical coverage in the state. Plans were subsequently prepared for the Krishna, Tapi, Narmada, west-flowing rivers and Mahanadi regions.
These six plans were consolidated to prepare Maharashtra's Integrated Water Plan in October 2018, making Maharashtra the first state in the country to prepare such an integrated plan. Necessary changes were made to the plan in 2024, incorporating river-linking projects.
Fadnavis also described the Wainganga-Nalganga project as an ambitious initiative aimed at addressing drought in Vidarbha.
Focus on Reforms and Policies to Keep Maharashtra at the Forefront of Water Management
Chief Minister Fadnavis called for coordinated efforts by the Water Resources and Agriculture departments to effectively utilise the state's 40 lakh hectares of irrigation potential, with a focus on water-use efficiency and appropriate cropping patterns.
He said Maharashtra must focus on next-generation reforms and policies to retain its leading position in the water resources sector.
To improve water-use efficiency, the state decided in 2017 to move away from the open canal system towards the PDN system. This system has enabled water savings, making it possible to transport additional water to drought-prone areas such as Man and Khatav.
Fadnavis also called for an integrated water plan for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR) covering the next 30 to 40 years. Water reuse should be increased while taking into account the requirements of drinking water, agriculture and industries.
He emphasised the need to provide treated water to data centres. A system could be developed in which municipal sewage is subjected to tertiary treatment and the treated water supplied to data centres.
This would require attracting private investment and developing a circular water economy, he said. Officials in the Water Resources Department should use their experience and expertise to implement innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.
Fadnavis said proper planning and modern technology could make water available for year-round agriculture even in drought-prone regions.
MoU Between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders and MWRRA
On the occasion, an MoU was signed between Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority on “Assessment of the Impact of Water Tariffs, Current Status of the Project and Remedial Measures.”
The agreement was signed by Mazagon Dock Director Captain Vasudev Puranik and MWRRA Chairperson Shwetali Thakare.
Speaking on the occasion, Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that the Water Resources Regulatory Authority was established in 2005, although it began functioning effectively from 2015. The process of preparing an integrated water plan was subsequently initiated, beginning with the Godavari basin.
Nearly 50 per cent of Maharashtra's rivers and tributaries fall within the Godavari basin, he noted.
Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan said Maharashtra had prepared the country's first integrated water plan. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had given concrete shape to the initiative by initiating further action.
Maharashtra became the first state in the country to prepare an integrated water plan in 2018, he said, adding that the ultimate objective was to ensure that water reaches the last farmer.
MWRRA Chairperson Shwetali Thakare delivered the introductory remarks. Various reports, commemorative publications and information booklets of the authority were released on the occasion.
Water experts and former chairpersons and members of MWRRA were also felicitated by Chief Minister Fadnavis. A seminar and workshop were organised as part of the anniversary celebrations.
