QUEPEM: Kanjibagh and Bori Gotho localities in the Morpila panchayat area have been facing a severe water crisis for years now, with the problem exacerbating during the dry months of March, April, and May. Despite numerous complaints and appeals, the local administration has failed to come up with a solution, leaving the villagers frustrated and helpless.
The only relief that the villagers get is through water tankers, which supply one barrel of water per household per day. However, even the tanker supply is erratic and sometimes comes only on alternate days, making it difficult for the villagers to survive. The situation is particularly challenging for women in the village, who have to make multiple trips to carry the water from the barrels on the road to their homes using pots and pans. Since Kanjibagh and Bori Gotho are hilly areas, this task is physically demanding and exhausting.
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The villagers have been raising this issue with the authorities for many years, but only receive empty promises and assurances.
Gopal Gaokar, a resident of Kanjibagh, expressed his frustration with the situation, stating that for several years now, the people of Morpila panchayat have been suffering due to the water crisis. Gaokar explained that the villages had natural water resources like springs and wells that used to suffice for the summer season.
However, due to overuse, these resources have dried up completely, leaving the villagers at the mercy of monsoon water storage. Unfortunately, even this source of water has been dwindling, leading to a severe water crisis during the summer months. The lack of access to clean water is not only a physical and logistical challenge for the villagers; it is also a threat to their health. With no access to clean water, they are susceptible to various water-borne diseases, as well as vector-borne infections due to storage of water,
The problem has been ongoing for many years, but local governance has done little to nothing to alleivate their suffering.
The villagers need a permanent solution to their water crisis, and they need it urgently.
