Mumbai: Maharashtra's Marathwada region is in the grip of severe drought with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's constituency Madha facing acute water shortage. The ground water level is decreasing, rivers, streams and taps have run dry with even the government-supplied water not able to meet the people's requirement.
Even though Sharad Pawar is an important Union Minister, yet people in his constituency Madha are facing water crisis. According to a Madha resident Annasaheb Patil water was supplied for the first time during Dussehra, then in Diwali and then water tankers come on the New Year day. He sarcastically says that the next water supply would take place on Holi.
Fight for water has become a daily routine for people in Madha. Two rivers pass through Madha but reckless extraction of sand has made both barren. Hand pumps have also gone dry due to depleting ground water level. Even if people are able to get some water from the hand pumps, it is contaminated and drinking it could lead to severe illness.
"We drink this dirty water everyday. Whatever be the colour of the water, whether it's green or yellow, we have to drink it because we have no other water sources. The water is contaminated and full of germs. Many people fall sick after drinking the water or even after taking bath," Neelam Khandagale, a resident of Madha says.
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