Nagpur Water Supply Adequate Until August; Government Maintains Cautious Approach on Irrigation Nagpur division is expected to avoid a drinking water shortage for the foreseeable future, with reservoirs holding over 1,700 million cubic metres (MCM) of live storage—321.55 MCM more than the same period last year. Authorities have assured that water supplies will remain sufficient until at least the end of August, despite uncertainties surrounding monsoon rainfall. This assessment was shared during a review meeting chaired by the Maharashtra chief secretary on June 15, where officials from the Water Resources Department and Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) highlighted that reservoir levels are currently higher than those recorded a year ago, providing a buffer against potential rainfall deficits. The division’s 370 water projects, including 12 major, 43 medium, and 315 minor dams and barrages, collectively held 1,704.96 MCM of live storage on June 11, equivalent to 36.21% of their total capacity of 4,926.7 MCM. Nagpur city, which relies primarily on the Totladoh and Navegaon Khairy reservoirs for drinking water, faces no immediate threat of scarcity. Officials projected drinking water consumption of 80.1 MCM and industrial use of 44.62 MCM between June 11 and August 31, while evaporation losses are estimated at 153.56 MCM. Total utilization during this period is expected to reach 278.28 MCM, leaving reservoirs with an estimated 1,426.68 MCM of live storage by September 1. Sonali Chopde, officiating chief engineer of the Water Resources Department, confirmed that reservoirs in Nagpur, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, and Wardha districts currently hold adequate reserves to meet drinking water needs.#nagpur_division #vidarbha_irrigation_development_corporation #maharashtra_chief_secretary #totladoh_reservoir #navegaon_khairy_reservoir
37% Evaporation Loss For Nagpur Divn Dams By Aug 31: WRD Study The Water Resources Department (WRD) has issued a warning that nearly 37% of the planned water utilisation in the Nagpur division could be lost to evaporation by August 31, citing the looming impact of the "Super El Nino" phenomenon and prolonged heatwaves in Vidarbha. According to an internal review note accessed by The Times of India, authorities project that 245.69 million cubic metres (Mcum) of water will be lost to evaporation, with additional losses allocated for irrigation, drinking purposes, and industrial use. The department estimates that 655.52 Mcum of water will be utilised across six districts—Nagpur, Wardha, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli—between May 1 and August 31. Current reservoir storage in the Nagpur regional division, managed by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), stands at 2,232.49 Mcum, which is 541.51 Mcum higher than the same period last year. However, projections indicate that storage levels may drop to 1,627.46 Mcum by September 1 after accounting for water allocations for drinking, irrigation, industrial use, and evaporation. A senior department official noted that the evaporation loss estimates were based on historical data and previous reservoir trends, highlighting the growing concern over water scarcity amid extreme weather conditions. The review note emerged during a "Heat Wave Preparedness and Water Scarcity 2026" meeting chaired by the divisional commissioner on May 14. Officials assessed reservoir conditions across the districts, which are expected to face below-normal rainfall and extended dry spells during the monsoon season.#nagpur_district #nagpur_division #water_resources_department #vidarbha_irrigation_development_corporation #super_el_nino
Nagpur Division Hits HSC Rock Bottom Again The Nagpur division's performance in the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations has continued to lag, marking the third consecutive year of poor results. With an overall pass percentage of 88.67%, the division has dropped nearly two percentage points compared to the previous year, placing it eighth among Maharashtra's nine administrative divisions. This ranking places Nagpur ahead of only Latur, which recorded the lowest pass percentage at 84.14%. Statewide, the overall pass rate stood at 89.79%, with Konkan division leading at 94.14%, followed by Pune at 91.25% and Amravati at 90.92%. Notably, Amravati improved its ranking, moving from fifth to third place, while Nagpur's stagnation highlights persistent challenges. Within Nagpur, the Science stream performed relatively well with a pass rate of 97.28%, while Commerce students achieved 84.53% and Arts students lagged significantly at 75.59%, underscoring a stark disparity across academic streams. A concerning trend is the scarcity of high scorers, with only 4.75% of students in the division securing marks above 75%. This places Nagpur eighth in the state for this category, far behind Nashik, which had 14.94% of students scoring above 75%, followed by Amravati at 13.29% and Mumbai at 12.06%. Even Kolhapur, at 5.10%, outperformed Nagpur, while Latur had the lowest rate at 4.64%. Gender disparities also persisted, with girls outperforming boys. Female students achieved a 92.5% pass rate, compared to 84.9% for boys, a trend consistent across the division. District-wise analysis revealed varying outcomes, with Nagpur district leading at 91.66%, followed by Gondia at 89.59%, Chandrapur at 88.72%, Wardha at 87.52%, and Bhandara at 84.12%.#nagpur_division #maharashtra_state_board #shivling_patwe #latur #konkan_division
Crackdown on Illegal Mining Nets Rs55.39cr Penalty: Bidari Nagpur: A year-long crackdown on illegal minor mineral extraction and transportation in the Nagpur division has resulted in 587 criminal cases, 158 arrests, and penalties totaling Rs55.39 crore, authorities announced. Divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari highlighted the scale of violations across districts, noting that actions were taken in 2,478 cases through district-level flying squads and check posts between April 2025 and March 31, 2026. Of the total penalties imposed, Rs20.15 crore has been recovered so far. Bidari emphasized that strict measures were initiated against illegal excavation and transport of minor minerals via special drives, reflecting intensified enforcement efforts over the past year. Authorities seized 1,512 vehicles and 10 pieces of machinery linked to illegal mining activities. Most violations involved sand, murum, and soil extraction, underscoring persistent pressure on natural resources in the region. District-wise data revealed that Bhandara reported the highest number of cases at 672, including 637 related to sand mining alone. Of these, 363 offences led to penalties of about Rs5 crore, with Rs2.82 crore recovered and 104 arrests made. Gondia recorded 641 cases, with penalties of Rs3.58 crore, of which Rs3.29 crore has been recovered. In Nagpur district, 261 cases resulted in penalties of Rs4.32 crore, with recoveries reaching Rs3.79 crore. Wardha reported 239 cases with penalties of Rs2.75 crore, of which Rs2.11 crore has been recovered. Chandrapur saw 431 offences, attracting penalties of Rs6.44 crore, with Rs5.41 crore recovered. Gadchiroli recorded 234 cases, with penalties of Rs3.24 crore and recoveries of Rs2.60 crore.#chandrapur_district #bhandara_district #nagpur_division #vijayalakshmi_bidari #gondia_district
₹15Cr Nod To Build 75 Bus Shelters Across Nagpur Region Nagpur: For thousands of commuters across the region, waiting for a bus often means standing under a blazing sun or scrambling for cover during sudden showers. This struggle may soon ease, with the state government clearing ₹15 crore for the construction of 75 passenger shelters across five districts in the Nagpur region. The proposed shelters will be built in Nagpur, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Wardha, and Bhandara, focusing on bus stops that currently lack even the most basic infrastructure. Nagpur division will receive 13 passenger shelters under the plan, with an allocation of approximately ₹2.6 crore. Each unit has been pegged at close to ₹20 lakh, with a detailed estimate of about ₹19.98 lakh covering civil structure, foundation, electrification, GST, and contingencies. The shelters will be equipped with covered roofing, seating arrangements, and basic amenities, and are expected to follow a standardized design to ensure uniform quality across locations. Bhandara has been allotted the highest share, with 22 shelters worth ₹4.4 crore, followed by Wardha with 14 shelters costing ₹2.8 crore. Alongside Nagpur, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli will each get 13 shelters, with allocations of around ₹2.6 crore per district, as per a government notification dated April 2. Officials emphasized that the focus is on improving commuter convenience, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas where passengers are often left exposed to extreme weather due to the absence of proper shelters. For daily passengers, especially those dependent on state transport buses, the lack of proper waiting spaces has long been a concern. Commuters often rely on makeshift arrangements or nearby shops for shade, while many are left exposed to heatwaves in summer and heavy rains during the monsoon.#bhandara #wardha #chandrapur #nagpur_region #nagpur_division
