Deputy Chief Minister Pawar Reviews Drought Situation in Pune District
Pune, October 2026: Proper planning for drinking water supply, fodder production, water conservation works and effective implementation of measures to tackle water scarcity must be prioritised to address the drought situation in Pune district. All government departments and agencies should work in coordination to ensure timely assistance to citizens, Deputy Chief Minister and Pune district Guardian Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar directed.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawar reviewed the drought situation in Pune district at a meeting held at the Divisional Commissioner’s Office. Zilla Parishad President Veerdhawal Jagdale, Mayor Manjusha Nagapure, MP Supriya Sule, MLAs Vijay Shivtare, Rahul Kul, Shankar Mandekar and Babaji Kale, Deputy Chief Minister’s Office Secretary Dr Rajesh Deshmukh, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Gajanan Patil, Resident Deputy Collector Jyoti Kadam and several other public representatives attended the meeting.
Pawar directed officials to ensure that water reserved for drinking purposes was used strictly according to the plan. Water tankers should be deployed in rural areas wherever necessary. While planning water availability for crops during the Rabi season, drinking water requirements must be given priority, she said.
Emphasis on Fodder Production and Water Conservation
To ensure fodder availability for livestock during the drought, fodder cultivation projects are being implemented, and arrangements are being made to provide seeds to farmers.
Pawar said farmers should be encouraged to cultivate fodder crops that require less water, while ensuring the judicious use of available water resources.
She also directed officials to undertake water conservation works on a large scale to strengthen water sources. Necessary steps should be taken to provide funds for essential projects through the District Planning Committee. She further called for effective drinking water management in municipal council areas as well as rural regions.
In view of the possibility of people migrating from other areas because of the drought, the administration should remain alert. Government schemes must be implemented without delay to ensure that people receive immediate assistance. All departments should maintain close coordination to achieve this, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said.
1,054 Water Conservation Works Identified
District Collector Jitendra Dudi briefed the meeting on the drought situation in the district and the measures being implemented by the administration to address water scarcity.
Under the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, a total of 1,054 water conservation works have been identified in the district.
Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Gajanan Patil said work was underway to prepare a plan for these projects in accordance with government directives.
The proposed works include the construction of farm ponds, repairs to check dams, strengthening of water sources and installation of wooden planks in Kolhapur-type weirs.
Senior officials from various departments of the district attended the meeting.
