On 16 June 2026 the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the Maharashtra Rural Drinking Water Policy 2026 to ensure clean, safe and quality drinking water in rural areas through sustainable measures and scheme convergence.
Key Provisions
- Scope: Covers effective and permanent rural water-supply solutions with a plan for maintenance and repair of schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0.
- Tariff: Fixed average monthly water charges for rural households set between Rs 150 and Rs 400 to ensure financial sustainability.
- Local delivery: Gram Panchayats may use 15th and 16th Finance Commission grants to cover shortfalls in water-charge collections.
- Community actors: Prioritises village Women Self‑Help Groups and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies for billing, collection and maintenance roles.
Water Resource & Technology Measures
- Source sustainability: Emphasis on village water self‑sufficiency, revitalising sources, rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse/recycling.
- Solarisation: State directed phased solarisation of over 22,185 rural water‑supply schemes; MEDA tasked to prepare the roadmap.
- Digital monitoring: GIS‑based tracking, real‑time dashboards for supply performance and grievance‑redressal mechanisms.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Jal Jeevan Mission 2.0: Includes operation, maintenance and repair components for rural drinking-water systems.
- MEDA: Maharashtra Energy Development Agency is the designated agency for state solarisation roadmaps.
- Finance Commission grants: 15th and 16th FC funds are allowable for recurring O&M deficits at gram‑panchayat level.