The Ministry of Rural Development announced on 31 October 2026 that the Secretary of the Department of Land Resources reviewed watershed development works under the WDC-PMKSY 2.0 scheme in Pune district on 30 October. The initiative focuses on soil and water conservation to help villages become water-secure and self-reliant. The Secretary directed officials to prioritize water conservation works in drought-prone areas, specifically expediting projects in 76 of Maharashtra's 304 drought-affected talukas. The release does not say when these specific directives take effect.
Key points
- Focus on 76 talukas among 304 drought-affected areas in Maharashtra
- Goal to make villages water-secure and self-reliant through rain conservation
- Priority works include percolation tanks, storage ponds, and Kolhapuri-type weirs
- Villagers in 11 Khed Project villages reported improved groundwater and crop yields
When it applies
- review of watershed development works in Pune district
- review meeting at Yashada, Pune
Who it affects
- 76 talukas