Watch: No one wants to talk about Marathwada’s water woes

Watch: No one wants to talk about Marathwada’s water woes
PICS: RAJU SHINDE
Once again the plight of the people has gone unnoticed as the country prepares to elect a new govt.

IN LATUR
Twenty-one villages on the periphery of Latur city are badly hit by water scarcity. Long queues for water till midnight is a common sight here. But, the lack of the most precious commodity in the droughtprone area doesn’t feature in the campaigns of political parties. The numbers tell a harrowing story: 28,523 villages are staring at a drought. Marathwada’s water stock has plunged to 5.68 per cent. Some 2,180 tankers are plying in 1,627 villages of eight districts in the region.

About 2.5 km from Latur, along the Latur-Barshi road, one can spot young men and women and middleaged men standing with bicycles, which have several plastic containers, meant for collecting water, tied to them. These are residents of Pakhar Sanghvi, Swarajyawadi, Vasavewadi areas.

Looming water scarcity in Latur
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Looming water scarcity in Latur
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The helpless villagers illegally draw water from the pipeline, which supplies to Latur. Last month, around 250 villagers protested at the tehsil office, demanding water connections.

Alfiya Javed Siddiqui is in Std III. She, along with her grandmother, mother and a four-year-old brother, comes to the spot many times in a day, especially during late evening to collect water, her bicycle laden with plastic containers. "We can't tell you how we are suffering. Our aim in life is to wait our turn and fill water," said Farhan Shaikh, Alfiya’s grandmother. Her toddler brother was carrying a small pipe on his shoulder.

Balaji Alare, a daily-wage earner, was furious. "We work hard throughout the day; in the evening we come home to fill water. We have no life,” he said, embittered at the way things are. Alare has lost faith in political parties. "Few days back these residents marched to the tehsil office for a water connection, but nothing came of it.

Alfiya Siddiqui, her grandmother, mother and brother are forced to illegally draw water from a pipeline in Latur several times a day

Alfiya Siddiqui, her grandmother, mother and brother are forced to illegally draw water from a pipeline in Latur several times a day


The youth and first-time voters from the area too have lost interest in politics. "In a day we have to carry water home at least 7-8 times. We stand here till late in the night because all the other spots are crowded. Our life will not change by following politics," Said Devaji Gore.

In Malvati village, Suresh Devake, a student of Std VI, was filling water from a leak in the pipeline. "We get water once a week in this village so we use this water for non-drinking purposes," he said. At another spot, Jalsabai and Anusyua Shinde, both senior citizens and sisters, fill water in small containers and utensils. "For hours, we sit here to fill the utensils. If we don't, then we will have to wait for 8 days," Jalsabai said. The sisters can’t afford tanker water.

Marathwada villages face water crisis; youths lose interest in politics

Water scarcity in Latur
People carrying water container on bicycles
Are youths losing the faith?
Women in Latur fill water from leaked pipelines
Latur kids starve for water
Atleast 28,523 villages are hit by drought in Latur

Water scarcity in Latur

Twenty-one villages on the periphery of Latur city are badly hit by water scarcity. People standing in long queues for water till midnight is a common sight here. But no political party has bothered to address the core issue of water. The lack of water in these drought prone areas has gone unnoticed and doesn't feature in the election campaigns of political parties. Photo by Raju Shinde/ BCCL

People carrying water container on bicycles

Along the Latur-Barshi road, about 2.5 km away from Latur, young men and women and middle aged men stand in a queue with bicycles, which have several plastic containers, meant for collecting water, tied to them. These are the residents of Sanghvi, Pakhar, Swarajyawada, Vasavewadi areas. Photo by Raju Shinde/ BCCL

Are youths losing the faith?

The youth and the first-time voters have lost their interest in politics, as they think following politics will not change their life. Though these people marched to the tehsil office for a water connection, but nothing came of it. Photo by Raju Shinde/ BCCL

Women in Latur fill water from leaked pipelines

Women in Malvati village struggle to get water from a leaked pipeline and use it for non-drinking purpose. If they don’t do this illegal activity, they have to wait for 8 days for tanker to arrive. Photo by Raju Shinde/ BCCL

Latur kids starve for water

Kids in Marathwada too were seen helpless and tired while taking out water from a small hole. Photo by Raju Shinde/ BCCL

Atleast 28,523 villages are hit by drought in Latur

Around 28,523 villages are staring at a drought which is a very distressing figure. Marathwada’s water stock has plunged to 5.68 per cent. Some 2,180 tankers are plying in 1,627 villages of eight districts in the region. Photo by Raju Shinde/ BCCL


In Hanmantwadi village, Umesh Patil is forced to buy tanker water for his cattle. "It would have helped if the government had started a cattle camp in our area,” Patil said.

In Kanerwadi, Vijanath Rode buys 600 litres of water for Rs 50 and sells it for Rs 250. I have to factor in my time, the cost of pipes and the tank, the auto, fuel costs and payments to well owners," he said.


As always, Marathwada’s parched reality has got a short shrift in the political discourse.