Water crisis hits Gavarwadi in Ambegaon; women march to gram panchayat office with pots

Gavarwadi village, part of the Kalewadi-Darekarwadi gram panchayat group in Ambegaon taluka, is facing a severe shortage of drinking water. Women have to walk through fields and scrub forest in the harsh sun for a single pot of water. There is considerable anger in the village over the administration's indifferent and evasive attitude.

In protest against the shortage, about 30 to 40 angry women from the village went straight to the gram panchayat office and held a "handa morcha", a march with water pots. The women strongly confronted the administration. They also warned that they would launch an agitation if the village's water problem was not resolved soon.

According to local villagers, the Kalewadi-Darekarwadi gram panchayat has a well near the Ghod river. The water level in this well and in two or three other wells nearby has dropped completely. Digging of a new well is also under way near the river level in the same area.

Villagers are asking whether the new digging is the reason the water in the older wells nearby has dried up. They have demanded an immediate technical inquiry into it.

Given the seriousness of the matter, a delegation of villagers met Pramila Walunj, the block development officer of the Ambegaon panchayat samiti, and told her about the women's difficulty in getting drinking water. The block development officer cited a technical reason, saying the village has not been officially declared water-scarce, so a tanker service cannot be started for now. She also asked whether any well was available for acquisition in their hamlet.

The women want the administration to stop insisting on paper rules, see the real situation in Gavarwadi and inspect the site at once. They say water supply should be started immediately through an alternative arrangement, including acquisition of a well, after a technical check of the wells' water levels.

Water is a basic human need. The demand is now growing that the administration take firm and lasting steps to end the long walks women have to make for water. The village is seeking both tanker water supply and a permanent arrangement.