Barde villagers, women march on Karjat Panchayat Samiti over water shortage

Women and residents of Bardi village in Karjat taluka marched on the Karjat Panchayat Samiti office, saying the village's water problem has persisted for years. Despite repeated representations, no permanent solution has been found.

Villagers complained that water from the tap water scheme reaches the village only once in three to four days. Even then, the pressure is so low that many households get no water, and in several homes it does not reach at all, they said. They said the supply through the gram panchayat is highly irregular.

The work on the village's tap water scheme was not completed on time. Villagers had submitted written representations to the Karjat Panchayat Samiti on December 26, 2025 and March 18, 2026 about the difficulty they face. They said the scheme's works remain incomplete even after this, and that they had followed up from time to time.

According to the villagers, they had given a letter seeking a remedy, but the gram panchayat bought time with temporary assurances. No permanent measure is being taken, they said. They had visited the gram panchayat and the panchayat samiti many times and submitted written representations, yet the problem remains unresolved.

Villagers feel that the water supply department has given no cooperation from the government or the Zilla Parishad to get the scheme completed. During the march, no concerned official or responsible person was present at the Karjat Panchayat Samiti. Angered, the women staged a sit-in for as long as two and a half hours.

Eventually, Zilla Parishad social welfare committee chairman Narayan Damse intervened and assured them that efforts would be made to resolve the water problem. The agitation was then called off.

The women have warned that they will protest again if the Karjat Panchayat Samiti does not act. Women of the village, former members and former deputy sarpanches took part in the march in large numbers.