 "No rain dance in Mumbai this Holi, decrees Maha govt as drought worsens")
The Maharashtra government is going all out to conserve water across the state, which is facing one of its worst droughts in almost four decades, going so far as to declare a ‘dry Holi’ in Mumbai.
From social media campaigns to action taken, water conservation has become a top priority for the government, given that the monsoon is still at least more than two months away.
Government data shows there is only 25% water in the state's dams, the Times of India reported. In the drought-hit region of Marathwada, the situation is dire, with only 6% water remaining in reservoirs, according to TOI report, compared to 18% last year at this time.
In an interview to NDTV, water resources Minister Ganesh Mahajan confirmed that such rain dance functions that consume lots of water, have been banned. Rain dance and Holi celebrations across the city typically entail additional consumption of nearly 50 lakh litres of water, according to BMC estimates.
Some BJP corporators in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation have asked for a fine of Rs 50,000 on those who indulge in what they say is ‘a criminal waste of water’.
Additionally, the government has also ordered the shutting down of public swimming pools for the next three months.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed for water conservation and has advised people to make minimum use of water.
The water conservation message, owing to the drought situation in Marathwada, is doing the rounds on social networking sites. With hashtags like #Savewater and #dryHoli, people are appealing to avoid wastage of water.
Residential associations in Mumbai are promoting 'dry Holi' via WhatsApp, DNA tweeted
Twitterati, too, are leaving no stone unturned to make this Holi a dry one. Tweets by Bollywood actors and senior journalists have appealed for a dry Holi owing to the drought.
Bollywood actor Anupam Kher tweeted to ‘keep the Holi festival dry as water sometimes dilutes the spirit of colour’.
Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai questioned the citizens if it would be too much to ask for to have a waterless Holi in drought hit Maharashtra.
Joining the crusade was journalist Sagarika Ghose, who is Sardesai’s wife, who asked people to do their bit for the thousands who go without daily supply of water. “For drought-hit farmers: campaign for a water-less Holi this year,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, in Latur district, which has been declared as drought-affected, the local administration has imposed Sec 144 to prevent violence over scarce water resources. The only source of water supply in the district is government-provided water tankers. Even those sometimes show up only once a week, or longer, often leading to scuffles among residents.
In Latur’s case, Section 144 will be used to prohibit the gathering of more than five persons at all tanker-filling points, public wells, tanker-plying routes and storage tanks in the district until May 31 to avoid any possible violence over water.
From social media campaigns to action taken, water conservation has become a top priority for the government, given that the monsoon is still at least more than two months away.
Government data shows there is only 25% water in the state's dams, the Times of India reported. In the drought-hit region of Marathwada, the situation is dire, with only 6% water remaining in reservoirs, according to TOI report, compared to 18% last year at this time.
More From This Section
In the Maximum City, Mumbai, Holi this year promises to be a minimalist affair after the government banned so-called ‘rain dance functions’, which have gained much popularity over the past few years. Private tankers have also been barred from supplying water to such events.
In an interview to NDTV, water resources Minister Ganesh Mahajan confirmed that such rain dance functions that consume lots of water, have been banned. Rain dance and Holi celebrations across the city typically entail additional consumption of nearly 50 lakh litres of water, according to BMC estimates.
Some BJP corporators in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation have asked for a fine of Rs 50,000 on those who indulge in what they say is ‘a criminal waste of water’.
Additionally, the government has also ordered the shutting down of public swimming pools for the next three months.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed for water conservation and has advised people to make minimum use of water.
The water conservation message, owing to the drought situation in Marathwada, is doing the rounds on social networking sites. With hashtags like #Savewater and #dryHoli, people are appealing to avoid wastage of water.
Residential associations in Mumbai are promoting 'dry Holi' via WhatsApp, DNA tweeted
Twitterati, too, are leaving no stone unturned to make this Holi a dry one. Tweets by Bollywood actors and senior journalists have appealed for a dry Holi owing to the drought.
Bollywood actor Anupam Kher tweeted to ‘keep the Holi festival dry as water sometimes dilutes the spirit of colour’.
Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai questioned the citizens if it would be too much to ask for to have a waterless Holi in drought hit Maharashtra.
Joining the crusade was journalist Sagarika Ghose, who is Sardesai’s wife, who asked people to do their bit for the thousands who go without daily supply of water. “For drought-hit farmers: campaign for a water-less Holi this year,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, in Latur district, which has been declared as drought-affected, the local administration has imposed Sec 144 to prevent violence over scarce water resources. The only source of water supply in the district is government-provided water tankers. Even those sometimes show up only once a week, or longer, often leading to scuffles among residents.
In Latur’s case, Section 144 will be used to prohibit the gathering of more than five persons at all tanker-filling points, public wells, tanker-plying routes and storage tanks in the district until May 31 to avoid any possible violence over water.