Water is a basic necessity of life, and what if you have to struggle even for that? In this modern era, where humanity has reached the moon and even found signs of water there, it is surprising that there are still places in earth where people remain far away from access to water.
And more surprisingly, when the government has launched schemes like Har Ghar Nal Se Jal and Jal Jeevan Mission, why is this village still struggling to get something as basic as drinking water? It is a big question in the face of development.
This is the story of Chikhla village in Sabarkantha district’s Khedbrahma taluka, where people are forced to walk nearly 5 km every day under the scorching 43°C heat just to collect drinking water.
The villagers said that around 2020-21, crores of rupees were spent to install tap connections and build water tanks under government water schemes, which gave them hope that water would finally reach their homes. But even after five years, many residents say not a single drop of water has come from those tap connections.
The villagers alleged that while the schemes were good in intention, they failed due to poor planning and execution. They also claimed that corruption may be one of the reasons behind the failure.
Another villager said that there is not enough water in the reservoirs, and even after filing multiple complaints to officials at every level—from taluka to district and state—no proper solution has been provided.
Water is the most basic necessity for mankind. Even grains cannot grow without it, so how can people survive without water? This situation has created deep frustration among residents, who say they are forced to leave their daily work and spend hours searching for water. Many feel betrayed by repeated promises from the authorities.
This water crisis is affecting women the most. Women in the village are facing the biggest burden, as they are the ones who have to travel long distances, stand in long queues at borewells, and bring water home for their families and even livestock.
One villager also alleged that crores of rupees were spent, but villagers are still waiting for water to reach their homes. He said the scheme appears to exist only on paper.
He added that fetching water has become a daily struggle, and even domestic animals are surviving on limited water.
Residents also pointed out that along with the water crisis, village roads are rough, there are no street lights, and nearby water sources like the Khedwa dam, canals, ponds, and lakes are drying up, making the situation even worse.
They also alleged that when officials were contacted for a response, no comments were received. Villagers now hope the administration will take urgent action to solve the drinking water crisis.
Also Read: What Failed First In Gandhinagar: Pipes Or Governance? https://www.vibesofindia.com/what-failed-first-in-gandhinagar-pipes-or-governance/
