Asapur villagers warn of road blockade in Jivti if crumbling old well is not repaired

Jivti taluka is known as an aspirational taluka, yet the problem of basic amenities remains serious in its Asapur village. The old well, the village's lifeline, is in a dilapidated state. Although the well has water, villagers find it difficult to use it safely.

The Perabokki Mahasangh has warned that a chakka jam (road blockade) agitation will be launched in Jivti taluka if urgent steps are not taken on the issue.

On behalf of the Asapur gram sabha, a memorandum was submitted to the District Collector on October 14, 2026. It demands a permanent solution to the village's water problem. The memorandum says repair work on the well should begin immediately and that a new pond should be built or the old pond deepened.

The old well has been an important source of water for villagers for many years. It holds plenty of water from the monsoon until February. But the well has caved in and is crumbling, which poses a risk of accidents. Villagers are therefore left asking how to safely use a water source that is within their reach.

The gram panchayat administration says the repair of the well has been sanctioned. Villagers are unhappy, however, as it is unclear when the actual work will begin. They say sanction is announced every year, yet the condition of the well remains the same. The demand for actual work in place of assurances is growing.

"The sanction has come, so why the delay in starting work?" the question has been asked. The demand is that the administration announce the current status of the repair work, the funds available and a firm deadline for starting it.

The Aspirational Taluka development programme is under way in Jivti taluka, and the Centre's Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is also being implemented. Despite this, the Perabokki Mahasangh has expressed displeasure that the problem of basic amenities in Asapur persists. The Mahasangh says the main aim of development schemes is to provide basic amenities to people in rural and tribal-dominated areas. Government schemes should not remain only on paper, and their benefits must reach villagers on the ground. The Mahasangh also demands that the departments concerned come together and take a firm decision on Asapur's water problem.

Villagers say a new pond must be built or the old pond deepened to increase the village's water supply. The memorandum to the District Collector was submitted to draw the administration's attention to this.

Sarpanch Mangesh Soyam, Santosh Salam, Shitru Gedam and Lachchu Valka of the Perabokki Mahasangh, along with respected citizens, women and men of the village, were present when the memorandum was submitted. District and Sessions Judge Abhay Lahote, Milind Ingle of the District Legal Services Authority and Advocate Mahendra Asirat assisted the villagers on the issue.

Meanwhile, inspired by the Perabokki Mahasangh, villagers have also taken up building jalbhandare and vanrai bandhare (check dams) for water conservation. With villagers making efforts on their own, they expect the government too to give priority to well repair and pond work.

Given the state of the well, repairs and safe construction should be completed before an accident occurs. "Give safe water to the living instead of offering water after death!" the villagers have appealed to the administration.

The Mahasangh's main demands are: urgent repair of the well; building a new pond or deepening the old one; making clear the official details of the repair sanction and the status of funds; and permanent measures so that the village gets safe and adequate water. The Mahasangh has repeated its warning that a chakka jam agitation will be held in Jivti taluka if these demands are ignored and the administration does not act urgently. The villagers insist that work on the well actually begin, rather than stopping at sanctions and assurances, and that a firm decision be taken on building or deepening the pond.