The water crisis in India’s rural villages, including those that supply water to the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, highlights the country’s overall struggle with water scarcity and mismanagement. In these impoverished villages, residents like Sunita Pandurang Satgir spend hours each day fetching water from drying wells or unreliable government tankers. Climate change has exacerbated the situation, with extreme heatwaves leading to early well drying and irregular water supplies. Despite being located in an area that supplies water to Mumbai, villagers have limited access and must rely on traditional wells that are rapidly depleting.
The failure of basic planning and infrastructure means that many rural villages are not connected to the larger water network serving Mumbai. This results in families like the Satgirs spending significant time and effort collecting water multiple times a day, leaving little time for other tasks. Government authorities have announced schemes to address the water crisis, but villagers feel that little has changed on the ground. The situation in Navinwadi village, near Shahapur, is emblematic of the broader challenges facing India in ensuring water availability for all its citizens.
Experts warn that India is facing a looming freshwater crisis, with projections showing a potential 40% decrease in availability by 2030. Groundwater resources are being depleted at unsustainable rates, with nearly 40% of India’s total water supply coming from this source. Himanshu Thakkar from the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers, and People highlights the disconnect between the construction of large-scale projects and the actual distribution of water to those in need. While projects are justified as serving drought-prone regions, they often end up prioritizing urban areas and industries, exacerbating the water crisis in rural villages.
Despite government promises to address the water crisis, residents of villages like Navinwadi continue to struggle with limited and unreliable water supplies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheme to provide tapped water to every household has not yet reached these remote areas, leaving villagers to rely on rationed water supplies from government tankers. In Navinwadi, residents must wait for the arrival of the water tanker, with women and children rushing to collect as much water as possible. Complaints and protests have yielded little change, leading to a resigned acceptance of living with limited access to water.
The disparity in water distribution between urban centers like Mumbai and rural villages like Navinwadi highlights the broader issues of governance, planning, and resource management in India. As the country grapples with the impacts of climate change and increasing water scarcity, vulnerable communities are left to bear the brunt of these challenges. Without significant changes in policies and priorities, the water crisis in India is likely to worsen, affecting millions of people who are already struggling to access clean and reliable water sources.
In the face of these daunting challenges, grassroots efforts and advocacy groups play a crucial role in raising awareness about the water crisis and pushing for better policies and interventions. Villagers like Sunita Pandurang Satgir, who spend their days collecting water to meet their basic needs, represent the human impact of the country’s water crisis. Their stories serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustainable solutions to ensure equitable access to water for all Indians, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status.
