Nagpur may face 10% water cut from October 15, about 74 MLD less supply a day

Nagpur may face a 10% water cut from October 15, 2026. According to the information available, the Water Resources Department has planned a 10% cut in the state from October 15, 2026 to August 31, 2027. The aim is stated to be to keep water in dams reserved for emergency needs.

The city receives about 740 million litres a day (MLD). A 10% cut would mean about 74 MLD less daily, leaving the city with roughly 666 MLD. However, how large the actual cut will be and how water will be distributed among different areas will depend on the final decision of the departments concerned.

Nagpur's water supply depends mainly on the Pench dam and the Kanhan river. According to available figures, the city gets about 520 MLD from Pench and around 220 MLD from Kanhan. Together this comes to about 740 MLD, though some accounts put the quantity at up to 750 MLD.

The city has about 4.5 lakh authorised tap connections. It has also emerged that 277 MLD of the water supplied daily has no billing record. This has raised questions over the distribution, record-keeping and billing systems.

According to Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin Itankar, the city's water supply is currently smooth and raw water supply is assured. He said a decision on water planning would be taken after a meeting of the committee concerned. It has been stated that, following the Water Resources Department's announcement, a committee chaired by the guardian minister will decide on water planning at its meeting.

Meanwhile, residents of some areas, including Manish Nagar, have complained that water supply has been disrupted for the past four days. Local residents say supply was stopped without prior notice and without a clear timeline for its return, causing hardship to families. They say they have to scramble for water, a basic necessity. They have complained to the Chief Minister, the Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner and sought an early solution.

Local resident Priyanshu Kabra has demanded that supply be restored immediately in the affected areas and that a fixed schedule for full resumption be issued. He has also demanded that free drinking water tankers be sent to the affected residential areas until normal supply is restored, that official information be given on the status of repair work, and that action be taken against those responsible for the delay.

Citizens have warned that they will protest if concrete steps are not taken soon. Amid the possible cut, the administration now faces the challenge of maintaining regular supply, resolving complaints and ensuring equitable distribution of the available water.