Sinnar faces water scarcity for 3rd year running

NASHIK: With the rise in day temperatures, the number of tankers supplying water to the villages in the district has gone up in last twenty days. Despite good rainfall in 2013, the water levels have failed to increase enough to give relief to Sinnar residents, who are facing scarcity-like situation for the third consecutive year.
District administration officials said that the number of tankers supplied in the district has gone up from 34 to 47 within this month.As many as 147 villages and hamlets are getting water through tankers.
Sinnar taluka has the maximum number of villages being supplied water through tankers as of now. Of the 47 tankers deployed in the district, 29 are supplying water in the taluka.
"As many as 15 villages and 108 hamlets in the taluka are facing water scarcity. Hence, 29 tankers have been pressed into service to provide drinking water to the villagers," officials from scarcity branch said.
The number of villages requiring water supply as their own sources of water have dried down has gone up from 24 to 37. Similarly, the number of hamlets requiring water supply to meet daily requirements has from 90 to 110 in the last three weeks.
"There are nine measures that have to be undertaken before opting for starting water tanker supply to any village. The steps include temporary repairs to water sources, identification of water sources nearby and channelising water from them to the village, taking up bore wells to get the water supply source and others before starting of water supply tanker to the area," the official said.
The tehsildar is authorized to take the decision to start tanker water supply to the villages after assessment of the ground situation. The deputy collectors or sub-divisional officers do not take these decisions, officials said.
Nandgaon taluka seems to be faring better than last year. In March 2013, the taluka had 42 tankers to supply water in 275 villages and hamlets. This year, no water tanker has been deployed in the region.
"The water levels are better as compared with last year. There has been good number of rotation of water from the dams that helped refill the water sources like minor irrigation tanks," the officer said.