Drought hits construction: Pune bans drinking water for building work, Nagpur halts road project

The impact of the drought is no longer confined to farmland and has begun to show in the state's economy. Water shortage has forced work on cement roads to stop in some places, while in others the use of drinking water for construction has been banned. The construction sector, which holds an important place in Maharashtra's economy, now faces a fresh crisis.

If construction work slows, the direct effect could fall on labourers, masons, centring workers, truck drivers, cement dealers and thousands of small businesses that depend on the trade. Jobs were first lost in agriculture, and if construction is now also hit by the drought, the question troubling everyone is how these workers will survive. The new economic crisis brought by the drought has deepened concern.

Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and construction is a major source of employment. This year's drought has created difficulties for both. A rainfall deficit, falling groundwater levels and limited water stocks in dams mean drinking water must be given priority. The effect is now being felt in the construction sector.

Drought has been declared in 305 of the state's 358 talukas. About 85 per cent of the state's talukas are thus under drought, and the rainfall deficit is about 18 per cent. Considering the severity of the drought, the state government has directed urban and rural local self-government bodies to impose a water cut of at least 10 per cent from October 16. While giving priority to drinking water, the emphasis has been placed on using treated wastewater for construction.

Following these directions, Pune has banned the use of drinking water for construction. In Nagpur, work on the fifth phase of the cement roads has been halted because of water shortage. The drought has thus reached actual construction work, and the construction industry in the state has also felt its effects.

The importance of the construction sector is not limited to putting up buildings. Many businesses are linked to it, including cement, steel, sand, bricks, transport, hardware and the livelihoods of labourers. According to Maharashtra's Economic Survey, the state's construction sector is estimated to record real growth of 7.8 per cent in 2025-26. The sector accounts for about 6 per cent of the state's GSVA, and its contribution to the state's overall economic output is also significant.