No brides for men, no water for cattle: Maharashtra village's crisis

A persistent water crisis continues to grip Borichi Bari, a village in Maharashtra’s Nashik district, as summer heat intensifies, and local water sources dry up. Residents, especially women, are forced to walk up to two kilometers under the scorching sun to fetch water from nearly dry wells, often risking their lives in the process. Yashoda, a villager, said this problem has plagued them for years and that women are unable to carry out household chores as most of their day is spent collecting water and cooking. Another resident, Chandrabai Bhoir, urged the government and local representatives to intervene and provide a year-round water supply, saying, “We shall be very grateful if they can remove the burden of pots from our heads.”

The crisis has hit farmers particularly hard. Kashinath, a farmer, explained that they have to pay ₹240 per day for tanker water—if it is even available—which is unaffordable for many. “We are dependent on farming and our cattle need water two to three times a day,” he said. Others like Roshan added that some villagers have sold their livestock due to the unaffordable cost of private tankers, leaving only the better-off able to buy water while others suffer.

The lack of water is also affecting social life. Deputy Sarpanch Somnath Nikule revealed, “In our village, when a young man goes to meet a prospective bride, people say, ‘There’s no water in your village—you have to fetch it from 3 kilometres away.’ Because of this, many young men here remain unmarried.” Another villager Roshan echoed this concern, saying, “As young men, when we go to meet potential brides, one of the first questions they ask is about the water supply in our village. If there isn’t proper access, the proposal is immediately rejected.”

Local officials say measures are underway. Dr. Arjun Gunde, Additional CEO of the Zilla Parishad, said, “Actually, for the past 5 to 6 days, there’s been a serious water shortage. People do get water there, and a drinking water supply scheme is in place. The issue started because the water level in the village well has gone down. The Gram Panchayat has started addressing the problem by supplying water through tankers.” Villagers, however, remain uncertain and are demanding a long-term solution.

(Inputs from PTI)