Maharashtra ordered water cuts from October 16 to manage drought and El Nino concerns. The government said it would reserve water for drinking and livestock needs first. Officials will keep a 10 percent emergency buffer in dams. Farmers get water for irrigation only after these essential needs are fully met.
Under the plan, water needed for drinking purposes will first be reserved in dams and reservoirs up to August 31 next year. The department said it would take into account evaporation, siltation and unauthorised water extraction while calculating the available supply.
A 10 percent emergency buffer stock will be maintained in every reservoir to deal with uncertain rainfall and water situation. In an extreme situation, water from the dead storage of a reservoir may also be used after a technical assessment, the government said.
Irrigation only after drinking water, livestock needs
The department has also laid down a priority order for irrigation. Water will be released for agriculture only after meeting the drinking water, livestock and fodder requirements.
For irrigation, the priority will be rabi foodgrain and fodder crops, followed by other rabi crops. Water will be made available to perennial crops only if supplies remain after meeting these requirements.
The government has also said it will encourage water-saving irrigation methods.