
[ad_1]
NASHIK: A treacherous climb down a stone well, using only a length of jute rope, is a risk women in Nashik’s Borichibari village are forced to take to get barely a pitcher of murky water.
Residents of Borichibari, which is in the Peth taluka and barely 65km from Nashik city, say they are facing an acute water crisis as the well, which was their primary drinking water source, has already dried up.
They said women now have to trek to another well, descend the vertical walls of the structure and scoop water from dirty puddles on the rocky floor.
However, the sarpanch of the group gram panchayat has dismissed these claims as “malicious” despite there being a viral video, purpotedly showing a woman climb down a 30ft well to collect water.
“The summer this year is hotter than the last. We started experiencing water supply-related issues beginning April. We did ask the gram panchayat to supply water to our homes. However, that did not happen. That is why we are left with no choice but to climb down the well to get water,” said Ranjana Gavit, Shanta Nikole, and other residents of the village.

Borichobar is close to the Maharashtra-Gujarat border and is part of a group gram panchayat. Sarpanch Mohan Kamdi disputed the social media video and claims that women are forced to climb into a well for water. He said the reports may have been fabricated by unidentified political rivals.
“Yes, there is a water shortage. We are already supplying water to the village well from another well,” he claimed.

Peth tehsildar and block development officer visited Borichibari, home to 554 residents, on Monday. They conducted a site inspection, documented their findings, and submitted recommendations for necessary actions, according to Rajendra Wagh, the resident deputy district collector of Nashik.
The official said, “The well, which is the village’s primary water source, was to be dug up again to increase its depth. Since there is currently a water shortage, a tanker has been deployed to refill the well. Women can draw this water using buckets. Residents had earlier demanded that water be supplied to their homes. This matter is being considered by the gram panchayat. However, on Sunday, there was a media report about a woman being lowered into the well, but that particular well is not even being used.”

The gram panchayat will soon send a proposal to re-dig the well. Meanwhile, a tanker has been pressed into service to supply water, the officer added.
[ad_2]
Source link
Be the first to leave a comment