Concern .................Eight Decades of Independence: Still No Access to Drinking Water! ......................Dr. Chander Sonane

Concern
Eight Decades of Independence: Still No Access to Drinking Water!
Dr. Chander Sonane

Across Madhya Pradesh and many other states of India, people continue to struggle for drinking water. In most villages and towns, obtaining safe drinking water remains a daily challenge. With severe heat prevailing across the country, arranging drinking water has become an even more serious concern for ordinary citizens.

Let us take a look at the situation in some villages and cities. In Mali village of Umaria district, a tribal region of Madhya Pradesh, young girls and women can be seen carrying pots on their heads under the scorching sun in search of water. The village, with nearly 900 families, has only one well, located three kilometers away. Tribal children, women, and men have to walk this distance every day to fetch water. Every drop of water has become a struggle for survival.

Now let us turn to Ujjain, the hometown of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Several localities in Ujjain face daily hardships in obtaining drinking water. Residents of Milkipura and Dhaba Road areas have been suffering from water shortages for quite some time. Similarly, Vikram Nagar and surrounding localities are also facing acute scarcity. Water tankers arrive only after repeated complaints, and even then residents must struggle daily to secure their share. In Adarsh Nagar of the Nagjhiri area, complaints of contaminated water supply have been reported for several days.

The condition in Vikram Nagar is even worse. Around 400 families are desperately waiting for every drop of water. Whenever a tanker arrives, women and children are forced to push and jostle to fill their containers. A pipeline project worth ₹6.4 million was approved to supply drinking water to the area, yet the Municipal Corporation has not even started the work.

Seven years ago, in 2019, a water tank costing ₹21.7 million was constructed in Vikram Nagar. It was meant to supply water to Vikram Nagar, the university campus, Bhartrihari Nagar, the railway colony, and the No. 3 Naka area. Pipelines were also laid. However, the project stalled because permission to cross the railway line was not granted. Although approval has now been obtained from the Railways, pipeline work has still not begun. As a result, residents of these localities continue to suffer from water scarcity. Whenever a tanker arrives, people rush toward it carrying pipes and containers.

Now let us move to Indore, India's cleanest city. Residents of Palda and Sukhliya have been facing severe water shortages. Recently, when residents staged a protest on the Indore–Nemawar Road demanding water, the police arrived to disperse them. While they did not receive immediate relief in the form of water, Bhawarkuan Police registered cases against 18 people for protesting without permission and obstructing traffic.

India is now in its 79th year of independence. Yet, in Akli and Kair Kori villages located near the India-Pakistan border, the water crisis remains unchanged. Residents still depend on traditional beris (small wells) constructed before independence. Many women guard these wells at night so that the slowly seeping water can accumulate. Numerous promises have been made to bring Narmada water from nearly 700 kilometers away to every household in the border region. Water tanks have even been shown as completed on paper. However, the reality is that many homes have still not received tap connections.

Akli village in Rajasthan has a population of about 500, along with more than 130 small hamlets. The traditional beris here date back to the pre-independence era. At one time, there were over 150 such wells. Due to the lack of timely excavation and maintenance, nearly 130 have become filled with sand and dried up. Today, only 15–20 beris remain functional. For the women of the village, fetching water from these wells is a daily struggle.

Recently, in the tribal-majority Sagaur village of Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, three young girls drowned in a well while collecting water. Despite the existence of a tap-water scheme, the taps remain dry, forcing villagers to fetch water from distant sources. Radha Gond (14), Tanu Gond (11), and Amrita Gond (11) had gone to a well nearly one kilometer from the village. After filling water, one girl slipped into the well. Another girl jumped in to save her and also drowned. A third girl lost her life while attempting to rescue the other two. The tragedy plunged the entire village into mourning.

The situation in Bhilpura locality, located just 15 kilometers from Guna city, exposes the shortcomings of government arrangements. Around 20 families living there for nearly 32 years continue to struggle for the basic necessity of clean drinking water. Conditions are so poor that villagers dig shallow pits in the ground to collect seepage water and then strain the dirty water through cloth before drinking it. Children and elderly residents frequently fall ill due to consuming contaminated water. There is still no paved road leading to Bhilpura. Villagers must travel via a dirt track and cross a stream to reach the settlement. During the rainy season, the route becomes completely inaccessible, cutting off the village from the outside world. Yet, little attention is paid to the plight of these tribal residents.

Now let us look at Gujarat's so-called “Cherrapunji.” In Berasta Faliya of Moti Palsan village, located on the Gujarat–Maharashtra border in Valsad district, people still have to risk their lives to obtain drinking water. They are forced to descend nearly 45 feet into a well using a ladder to fetch water. Ironically, this region is often referred to as the “Cherrapunji of Gujarat.” Yet every summer it faces a severe water crisis. The government’s multi-crore Astol Group Water Supply Scheme has failed to deliver results. Although every household has received a tap connection, water does not flow through the taps.

It is shameful that even after eight decades of independence, millions of people still do not have access to drinking water. The responsibility lies with both the Central and State Governments. The Central Government launched the tap-water scheme in recent years, which was undoubtedly a commendable initiative. However, due to official negligence, many villages have pipelines but no water tanks, while others have tanks but no pipelines. In some villages, both tanks and pipelines exist, yet water still does not reach households because of poor maintenance and administrative apathy.

According to reports, a large number of rural tap-water schemes are in a dilapidated condition. Unfortunately, little attention is being paid to this issue. Both the Central and State Governments must undertake priority reviews and take effective action to ensure a regular supply of safe drinking water to residents of villages and cities alike. Only then can people finally gain access to one of the most basic necessities of life—clean drinking water.

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Dr. Chandar Sonane, after retiring from the post of Joint Director in the Madhya Pradesh Public Relations Department, resides in Ujjain. He has a keen interest in contemporary and social issues and candidly expresses his views on matters of public interest through the “Sarokar” column.