Wardha fears water crisis after poor rain; reports sought from 519 gram panchayats

Wardha district has received very little rain this year, raising fears of a serious water crisis in the coming days. The district administration has begun preparations in view of the situation.

The rural water supply department of the Zilla Parishad has asked the 519 gram panchayats under the district's eight panchayat samitis to submit reports on the water scarcity situation in their areas. These reports will be used to draw up the action plan (kruti aarakhada) for drought-relief measures for 2026-27. Water shortages occur every summer, and the administration prepares such a plan to deal with them.

The plan is usually approved in three phases between October 1 and June 31. In 2025-26, the approval was given in two phases. That plan proposed 1,163 measures for about 1,015 villages in the district. Most of these works have reportedly been completed.

The water scarcity action plan includes digging new borewells, repairing old borewells, special repairs of piped water supply schemes and special repairs of irrigation wells. It also covers acquisition of private wells, deepening of public wells and completion of unfinished water supply schemes.

The district's situation is a cause for concern this time. Rainfall has been below average, and the effect may be felt in the coming summer. The 11 reservoirs in the district currently hold about 70 per cent of their capacity.

In view of the possible crisis, Guardian Minister Dr Pankaj Bhoyar recently held a review meeting at which the necessary measures were discussed. District Collector Vanmathi C. is also reviewing the situation from time to time. At the end of September, the administration directed all 519 gram panchayats, through the block development officers (BDOs) of the eight panchayat samitis, to present the current state of water scarcity in their areas.

The Zilla Parishad's rural water supply department had also notified the gram panchayats through the BDOs on September 20. They were asked to submit the "prapatra va goshwara" (forms and summary) required for the 2026-27 plan. However, no report has reportedly come in from any tehsil so far.