Desperate Water Crisis in Tulshi: Village Declares 'For Sale'
Residents of Tulshi village in Maharashtra's Solapur district resort to a unique protest amid severe water scarcity, declaring their village 'for sale' in a bid to attract government attention.
Tulshi villagers have put up a banner stating 'Village for Sale' to highlight their water crisis.
Incomplete irrigation projects have left the village dependent on water tankers for years.
Local officials acknowledge the issue, promising assistance to resolve the water shortage.
In a desperate bid to draw attention to their dire water situation, residents of Tulshi village in Maharashtra's Solapur district have displayed a banner proclaiming 'Village for Sale'. This unusual protest comes as the village of 7,000 faces severe water scarcity, with farms and wells drying up due to years of unfulfilled government promises regarding water supply.
The residents' frustrations stem from the incomplete excavation work on the Sina-Madha Lift Irrigation Scheme, which has left them without reliable water sources. Sarpanch Sharad More stated that despite the canals of the irrigation scheme being in close proximity, the village has seen no benefits from it. The villagers have resorted to relying on water tankers, a situation exacerbated by insufficient rainfall this monsoon season.
On September 14, the villagers initiated a hunger strike demanding immediate water supply and later organized a 'thali-naad' protest outside the Madha tehsil office. They have warned of escalating their protests if the government fails to address their plight. More highlighted that nearly 800 meters of excavation work has been incomplete for over 26 years, which, if finished, could permanently resolve their water crisis.
The ongoing water shortage has severely impacted the livelihoods of Tulshi's residents, primarily engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. The crisis has also led to social issues, with around 350 unmarried men in the village struggling to find brides due to the prevailing conditions. In 2024, the Krishna Valley Development Corporation approved plans to provide water from the Sina-Madha scheme to Tulshi and other drought-prone areas, but residents remain skeptical about the implementation of these plans.
Despite announcements of funding for water supply projects, villagers claim that no significant progress has been made. They have repeatedly approached the administration for solutions, but their efforts have yielded little result. The 'Village for Sale' banner serves as a symbolic protest to keep the pressure on the government. Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne has acknowledged the issue and assured that the state government will extend all possible assistance to alleviate the water crisis in Tulshi.
