Masur's Rs 14-crore Jal Jeevan scheme complete but homes get no water; Jagdale warns of protest

A water supply scheme worth about Rs 14 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission at Karad has been completed, yet villagers still have to struggle for water. It has been alleged that the administration has blatantly ignored the water issue.

Mansingrao Jagdale, former chairman of the Zilla Parishad's education and finance committee, warned at a press conference that if the administration concerned did not resolve the issue within 15 days, women would take out a handa morcha. Sahyadri factory director Dinkarrao Shirtode, Mahesh Ghadge, Sikandar Shaikh and Jamir Mulla were present.

Jagdale said the scheme was taken up so that the village's water shortage would end and enough water would reach every home. Villagers complain, however, that despite the scheme being implemented, the expected improvement in their water problem has not come. The question has therefore arisen of when citizens will actually benefit from it. He said it was unfortunate that people still have to struggle for water after a scheme worth crores of rupees has been completed.

The Rs 14-crore Jal Jeevan scheme of Masur had been stuck in uncertainty and had remained in the news because of various disputes. It was completed, the hurdle of the power connection was removed, and the water was even ceremonially worshipped. But in the last stage of getting water into homes, a fresh obstacle arose, this time over tap connections. People had to keep waiting for water because there were no tap connections. Jagdale asked whose obstinate stance and arbitrariness had held up the tap connections. "The scheme came to the village, but only in name; this is the mockery that has fallen to the lot of the people of Masur," he said.

Jagdale asked whether there was political pressure in starting the scheme and, if so, who the "Shukracharya in the ladle" was. The Jal Jeevan scheme was completed six months ago, yet villagers have no water. This issue is no longer one of political credit, he said; it is tied to the villagers' need for water, and to their health and survival. "Take the credit, whoever wants it, but give water," he said. He also said the demand for a separate special gram sabha to find a solution to this burning issue was being rejected.

For many years the people of Masur have had to get by on the meagre water of an old, outdated water scheme. They were shown dreams of clean water round the clock, the scheme was completed, but there is no water in homes. Mansingrao Jagdale said the administration would have to answer whether the Rs 14-crore scheme was meant only to blacken paper or to satisfy the people.