Khandwa (Madhya Pradesh): The residents of Injalwada village in Punasa district are facing severe water shortage amid rising temperatures, with approximately 1,400 villagers now dependent on a single functioning tubewell for their daily water needs.
The crisis worsened in early April when one of the village's two tubewells stopped functioning in the scorching heat of summer.
Residents are now compelled to travel long distances to fetch drinking water either from the remaining tubewell located outside the village or from wells in agricultural fields.
"Every summer we face this struggle for drinking water," said villager Kalu Singh. Other locals including Tulsiram Narware and Sukhram Solanki said they have complained about water shortage to panchayat officials but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. The situation is further aggravated by administrative negligence.
Crisis: Residents are now compelled to travel long distances to fetch drinking water | FP Image
Notably, the village panchayat building remains locked most days. Panchayat secretary Dinesh Paliwal who also oversees neighbouring Guyada gram panchayat only occasionally pays a visit.
A water tanker provided through previous government funding stands abandoned near the panchayat building.
Even though tap connections are visible outside many homes, residents claimed that the water supply through these connections is unreliable and infrequent.
When contacted, secretary Paliwal acknowledged the drinking water problem and said he discussed drilling a new tubewell with concerned officials.
He also confirmed that the village's only water tanker is non-functional and assured that he requested a new tanker from the MLA.
