SINNAR (NASHIK) :
Sinnar taluka, known for its persistent drought situation, is remained tanker-free till the closing week of May this year, easing pressure on the local administration and farmers.
Due to the satisfactory rainfall last year in widespread areas of drought prone Sinnar tehsil and across the district, there was ample water stock in water bodies including rivers, streams, wells and reservoirs supplying water to the tehsil. There was an improvement in the groundwater table also.
Due to prolonged rains last year which lasted till the end of November, there was abundant water stock in reserves. As a result, villages dependent on natural sources of water, this year, didn’t have to bear brunt of water scarcity and shortage of drinking water.
Due to the large scale of dairy business in the Panchale area in the eastern part of Sinnar, farmers have been fighting for drinking water as well as water for animal husbandry business. But this year, farmers have not yet raised demand for water tankers from the district administration due to sufficient availability of water.
In the month of May last year, the government had supplied water to 297 villages areas including 23 villages and 274 hamlets in Sinnar taluka through 55 tankers. This year, however, there has been no water shortage and no demand for tanker, the administration is confident that the tehsil which has been facing water problem since long, will achieve tanker-free status.
The first tanker was launched in the taluka on March 24 last year. After the onset of monsoon, supply of water tankers in the taluka was suspended at the end of July. This year, only two gram panchayats, Sonagiri and Sulewadi, have so far requested their respective panchayat samitis for water tanker for their areas.
As the monsoon prolonged till November end last year, it received 150 per cent above average rainfall. This helped in increasing depleted ground water level and water storage in dams.
Currently, water consumption has increased significantly in the area due to high temperature level.
Water is being supplied to the villages in the Panchale area from the MI tank at Vadangali. The increasing consumption of water due to the awareness created out of corona pandemic, the Panchale Gram Panchayat citing rising demand for water has planned to increase water supply. Today, there is no shortage of drinking water or livestock water in any of the villages in the eastern part of Sinnar.
– P R Shirole, Gramsevak, Panchale
