India, June 30 -- Even as the southwest monsoon has been delayed this year, the state's latest groundwater assessment presents a mixed picture. While more than half of Maharashtra's talukas recorded an improvement in groundwater levels compared with the five-year average for May, nearly 47% continued to witness a decline, highlighting persistent water stress in several parts of the state.

According to the Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA), groundwater levels fell in 165 of the state's 353 talukas, while 188 talukas recorded an increase. The assessment, based on data from 3,920 observation wells and released in June for May 2026, found that despite an overall improvement in more talukas, groundwater stress remains uneven a...