Water tanker in Satara’s Man taluka
Kolhapur: With water scarcity tightening its grip on Satara district, collector Santosh Patil has rolled out sweeping restrictions aimed at conserving every drop of drinking water, warning of legal action against violators.
The order further imposes restrictions on digging new wells and borewells for non-drinking purposes within a 500-metre radius of public drinking water sources. Buildings and housing societies with an area of 100 sqm or more in urban and semi-urban areas have been directed to implement rainwater harvesting and borewell recharge systems. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolhapur | Silver Rate in Kolhapur | Bank Holidays in Kolhapur | Public Holidays in Kolhapur Stay updated with the latest Kolhapur news.
Farmers have been urged to shift to drip and sprinkler irrigation and plan crops according to available water resources. Patil said tanker supply to scarcity-hit areas and acquisition of private borewells for drinking-water distribution are already being undertaken as part of the district’s drought-response measures. “Drilling borewells deeper than 60m has been prohibited in the district, and temporary restrictions have been placed on drilling new borewells without administrative permission. The rig machines used to drill illegal borewells will be seized, and criminal cases will be registered against their owners,” it states. Download the TOI App.
Legal action will be taken against those who break the rules,” Patil said. The measures come as below-normal rainfall and the impact of a severe El Niño have pushed even traditionally water-rich parts of the district into distress. Several talukas, including Mahabaleshwar, have been declared drought-hit. “Considering the current situation, conserving every drop of water is the prime duty of every resident of Satara. Residents from both cities and villages should recognise the seriousness of the situation, cooperate with the administration, and avoid wasting water. As per the order, using tap or borewell water to wash vehicles, spray roads, or clean courtyards is banned until the scarcity period ends. Citizens have been directed to clean vehicles with wet cloths instead. Commercial and private swimming pools must remain shut, while potable water cannot be used for new construction work. “If leaks in taps or water tanks are found in houses and housing societies, they must be repaired immediately. Chief officers have been instructed to impose fines on those who waste water,” the order states. The administration has also formed teams from the revenue and water resources departments to crack down on illegal withdrawal of water from dams, canals, rivers and lakes. In villages dependent on water tankers, supplies must be used only for drinking and household purposes, with gram panchayats instructed to prevent wastage at distribution points.