In Tulshi village, located within the Madha taluka of Solapur district, a poster has surfaced as a poignant plea from residents who have been waiting over 25 years for access to irrigation water, which flows just beyond their reach.
Situated in a rain-shadow area, the community had high hopes when the Sina-Madha lift irrigation scheme was introduced around the year 2000, believing it would alleviate their water scarcity.
“Our village is in a rain-shadow area, and we anticipated that the implementation of this scheme would provide us with water. Unfortunately, the canal is situated approximately 400 meters from the village boundary,” explained Sharad More, the village sarpanch.
More highlighted that about 620 hectares in Tulshi are dedicated to fruit cultivation, along with additional land for various crops, yet the villagers have not benefited from the irrigation system.
With a population nearing 7,000, more than 2,000 residents have migrated to urban areas like Pune and Mumbai in search of employment opportunities over the years.
The ‘Village for Sale’ signs erected by the locals express their frustration rather than being a genuine offer, stemming from years of unmet expectations regarding irrigation facilities.
This year’s inadequate rainfall has worsened the situation. Pandurang Devkar, who has planted around 1,000 pomegranate trees on two acres, reported spending roughly Rs 4 lakh this year to prepare his farm.
“The rains have failed us, and we lack a dependable irrigation source. My crops have withered completely,” Devkar stated, adding that he now resorts to purchasing a water tanker weekly for Rs 4,000 to sustain his plants.
He noted that neighboring villages benefit from the canal system, cultivating crops like sugarcane, vegetables, pomegranates, and grapes, while Tulshi relies solely on unpredictable rainfall.
“For over 25 years, we have been requesting a canal network, yet political leaders have merely provided us with promises. To date, no groundwork has been laid,” he lamented.
Pramod Vasekar is experiencing similar challenges; his guava plantation, spanning five acres, has dried up after he invested around Rs 5 lakh in it.
According to Vasekar, the water bodies in Tulshi are nearly empty, and wells and lakes have run dry. Four water tankers deliver drinking water to the village daily.
Residents have relied on these tankers annually, requesting their deployment again since late June. They even organized a protest during Ganesh Chaturthi, advocating for an irrigation network.
“If a water pipeline system were established, at least six of the 14 water bodies could be replenished, which would be immensely beneficial,” Vasekar suggested.
The dire circumstances have left both people and livestock struggling for drinking water, and with the end of September approaching, there are concerns about the situation until the next monsoon season.
Many farmers in Tulshi had shifted to dairy farming over the years, but the ongoing water crisis has intensified shortages of both fodder and drinking water for their cattle.
Frustrated by what they describe as continuous unfulfilled promises and the lack of advancement on the proposed canal pipeline network, villagers erected the ‘Village for Sale’ signs in hopes of attracting government attention to their plight.
The water scarcity is impacting various facets of village life, including social dynamics, as families seeking brides are increasingly hesitant to consider proposals from young men in drought-stricken areas like Tulshi due to concerns over financial stability and water access.
Rahul Gavhane, a 30-year-old with 107 acres of land, has been searching for a bride for over five years. He revealed that some families have declined marriage proposals after visiting Tulshi and witnessing the water crisis firsthand.
“This aspect of the water crisis is often overlooked,” Gavhane remarked.
Having previously worked in manufacturing in Pune, Gavhane returned to his village after his father’s passing. He has over 30 acres dedicated to fruit cultivation but struggles to maintain his orchards due to water shortages.
Additionally, he owns 30 cows and faces daily challenges in securing sufficient fodder and water for them.
“After numerous rejections, I am beginning to lose hope for marriage,” he confessed.
The Indian Express made multiple attempts to reach out to the Solapur district collector for comments regarding the villagers’ issues and the status of the proposed irrigation network, but received no response.
Shubham Kurale is a journalist based in Pune with a background in journalism from the Ranade Institute. He primarily focuses on transportation issues while also covering civic matters, sports, gig economy workers, environmental topics, and LGBTQ+ issues. You can find him on X:@ShubhamKurale1
