Panvel Municipal Corporation cancels annual Diwali illumination due to drought
The civic body will not install decorative lighting across its four wards to address water and fodder concerns in Maharashtra.
The Panvel Municipal Corporation has decided to scrap its yearly Diwali decorative lighting across all four of its wards, according to a report by Urban Acres. The move follows the Maharashtra government's declaration of drought in 304 tehsils where Trigger 1 and Trigger 2 conditions were activated during the 2026 Kharif season.
The decision was reached during a recent meeting involving Panvel Mayor Nitin Patil, House Leader Prakash Binedar, and Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale. The civic administration stated the cancellation is a response to the state's drought situation and the necessity to address water and fodder issues.
The state has established a task force under the chief secretary to manage water conservation as an El Nino impact is possible. Additionally, the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Department has issued a resolution directing districts to allocate at least five per cent of annual plan funds to fodder-related schemes.
Under these state measures, district collectors must create fodder banks and implement biometric tracking at cattle camps. The Agriculture Department has also been instructed to ensure the availability of fodder seeds for the Rabi season.
The Panvel civic body has not specified the exact amount of money saved or how those funds will be redirected. The state's conservation and fodder measures will be coordinated through district administrations and the task force led by the chief secretary.