Nashik drafts Rs 13.84 crore water scarcity plan, Rs 11.15 crore of it for tankers

The state government has declared drought in 13 tehsils after a long gap in this year's rains. Well water in villages has dropped and the groundwater level is also falling fast. In view of this, the Nashik district administration has prepared a scarcity action plan for 2026-27, keeping the rainfall situation in mind. The plan is worth Rs 13 crore 84 lakh 42 thousand and has been sent to the state government for approval.

The plan sets aside Rs 11.15 crore for supplying water by tanker. This makes it clear that the district's hopes will now rest largely on tankers.

The plan covers three phases: October to December, January to March, and April to June. A total of 2,064 villages and hamlets in the district have been hit by drought. Water sources are dropping fast, so a serious shortage will be felt in the next few days. The administration has begun preparations now for this reason.

If the shortage worsens, the administration has planned a total of 355 tankers to supply the affected areas: 105 in the first phase, 135 in the second and 115 in the third. A provision of Rs 11.15 crore has been made for this.

385 wells to be acquired

In areas with no other source of water, water will be supplied by acquiring 385 private wells. The wells are also to be acquired in three phases.

Nine measures in the plan

Nine schemes have been included in the plan, based on the rainfall received. They include completing ongoing piped water schemes, repairing piped drinking water schemes, taking up temporary municipal schemes, deepening wells, acquiring private wells and supplying water by tanker. The spending is divided as follows: Rs 28 lakh for repair of piped drinking water schemes, Rs 28 lakh for temporary municipal schemes, Rs 20 lakh for deepening wells, Rs 1 crore 92 lakh 82 thousand for acquiring private wells, and Rs 11 crore 15 lakh 42 thousand for supplying water by tanker.