Drinking beer instead of water is not in our culture, the Shiv Sena said in an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana on Monday, reported PTI. This comes two days after party president Uddhav Thackeray said that water supply to breweries in Maharashtra's drought-hit Marathwada region should be shut down. The Sena said that the Maharashtra government needs to understand that water should only be used to save human lives in the current scenario.

The Sena's editorial said, "There are 10 big industries in Marathwada that manufacture beer. A 20% water cut has been imposed on them keeping in view the prevalent drought conditions. But these industries also need to be saved as lives of thousands of people depend on them. The government needs to find a middle way immediately."

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday had said that a decision on water supply to breweries would be taken after reviewing the Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner's report on the sector-wise allocation of the resource to industrial companies. However, Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Pankaja Munde has said that "no additional water is being given to the breweries. The water supplied is within the quota reserved for industrial units".