Nearly 74 percent of Maharashtra has been declared drought-hit following a dry monsoon, prompting the state to implement a 10 percent water cut from October 16. The state has directed local bodies to prepare water management plans until August 31, 2027, emphasizing the reuse of treated wastewater for various non-potable purposes.
While Maharashtra has policies in place to encourage wastewater reuse, urban local bodies encounter challenges. These include insufficient funding, inadequate treatment capacity, a lack of implementation guidance, and issues with institutional accountability. Currently, only 57 percent of the state’s sewage is treated, and just 17 percent of wastewater is reused, leading to untreated flows polluting rivers and lakes.
Source: Down To Earth