Maharashtra will require villages to prepare drinking water plans by August under a new state campaign focused on water conservation, rainwater harvesting and economical water use, rural development and panchayat raj minister Jaykumar Gore said in Nashik. The Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan 2026-27 is scheduled to be launched on Sunday in the presence of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The announcement comes as the state government prepares for potential drought conditions and seeks to place village-level planning at the centre of water management. Gore said the campaign would focus on strengthening local water sources, harvesting rainwater and ensuring that available water is used economically. He described village-wise water planning as essential in view of the possibility of drought.
The minister was speaking at a news conference held at the Nashik Zilla Parishad. A Sarpanch Parisamvad, or interaction with village heads, has also been organised as part of the launch. Sarpanches from across Maharashtra are expected to receive guidance on water planning, water management, pre-drought measures and the objectives of the campaign.
Gore said the previous campaign had resulted in development works in nearly 5,500 villages through the convergence of funds from different government departments. The new campaign will continue to rely on coordination among gram panchayats, the administration and villagers, while giving greater emphasis to local water resources and preparedness before drought conditions intensify.
The programme will also link water conservation and village development works with employment generation. According to Gore, agricultural labourers will be provided local employment through activities involving water conservation, water storage and village development. The stated objective is to allow villages to improve their water infrastructure while creating work opportunities for local manpower.
The proposed village drinking water plans are expected to provide the administrative basis for identifying local requirements and conservation measures. The minister did not provide details of the format, funding allocation or monitoring system for these plans in the information available. The campaign’s effectiveness will therefore depend on how responsibilities are divided between gram panchayats and government departments, and how the plans are translated into completed works.
The government is also considering new rules for videography during gram sabha meetings. Gore said some individuals deliberately disrupt gram sabha proceedings to create social media content, record videos and exert pressure on local officials. The proposed guidelines could restrict or prohibit private video recording and establish parameters for official videography during the meetings.
The proposed restrictions introduce a separate governance measure alongside the water campaign. Gram sabhas are key forums for village-level decision-making, and any new videography rules would determine how proceedings are recorded and who controls access to those recordings. Gore said the government was considering the framework; no final guidelines or implementation date were announced in the information available.
The campaign launch and the Sarpanch Parisamvad are the next stated milestones. The government has directed villages to prepare drinking water plans by August, while further details on the proposed gram sabha videography rules are awaited.
