Maharashtra, India's wealthiest state with a listed wealth exceeding ₹63 lakh crore and home to 112 billionaires, will impose water cuts of at least 10% starting 16 October. The government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, announced the cuts across all urban and rural local bodies due to a deficient monsoon and drought conditions affecting 74% of the state's talukas, according to livemint.com.
The water restrictions will require industries to reuse or recycle at least 30% of the water they consume. The state declared a drought on 26 September in 265 of its 358 talukas, driven by low rainfall, limited dam storage, and possible El Nino effects. Drinking water will be prioritized under the new water management plan to address the scarcity, as detailed by livemint.com.
Maharashtra holds nearly 40% of the combined listed personal wealth across 20 Indian states, with Mumbai contributing over ₹53 lakh crore and hosting 93 billionaires. Pune also ranks among the leading cities with nearly ₹7.5 lakh crore in wealth. Despite this concentration of wealth, the state faces severe water shortages, highlighting the challenges of resource management in economically significant regions, per livemint.com.
The government’s announcement comes amid growing concerns over water availability following the drought declaration and deficient monsoon. The new water cut measures will take effect from 16 October, impacting residents and industries statewide, as reported by livemint.com.