India > Maharashtra

India > Maharashtra’s Water Challenges

Following years of drought and acute water scarcity, the State of Maharashtra is facing an increasing gap between water availability and demand. According to the World Resources Institute, India’s agricultural sector suffers from high water stress, placing an increasing amount of pressure on water demands for food security, economic growth and energy production, all while maintaining a delicate ecosystem. In Maharashtra, tackling the agri-water crisis to ensure the State’s sustainable socio-economic growth, specifically in its agricultural sector, requires a collaborative solution.

Approach and Results

Since early 2014, 2030 WRG has been working with the Government of Maharashtra to promote more water-efficient growth in the state’s agricultural sector. In collaboration with the World Economic Forum, 2030 WRG is facilitating PPPs to promote agri-water efficiency, developing a comprehensive program in the cotton sector, and working with large multinational companies to recharge groundwater for urban and industrial water security.

2030 WRG is also striving to reach circularity in urban water use by maximizing the use of water treatment assets in urban centers and targeting policy-regulatory enforcement. Working with the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA), 2030 WRG is supporting the development of tradable and target-based Wastewater Reuse Certificates (WRCs) backed by Blockchain-IoT technologies for adoption among large industries or industrial parks and urban municipalities. The engagement will start with the top 20 water-consuming industrial companies.

Partners

The Maharashtra MSP Steering Board is chaired by the Chief Secretary, and includes representatives from Departments of Water and Agriculture, the Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture, and other government, private sector, and civil society officials.

Resources
Multi-Stakeholder Platform Documents

The 2030 WRG FY23 Annual Report is available now. Learn more about key highlights of the year.