It’s mid-afternoon in this small village located in Naraynakhed constituency. The summer heat is more than 41 degrees Celsius. It is highly impossible for people to go without water for more than an hour in this area where the heat is felt all the more due to the rocky terrain.
One can see the barren dried up land in the project area of Borancha, except for small portions of fodder which grew due to the ground water, and small patches of water that came up beneath the ground in the spring wells that were dug along the coast of the project.
There were more than 50 sheep, and goats graze towards the water ponds so that they can meet their thirst. These animals are allowed to have water for 15 minutes and then are shied away.
The officials are even contemplating to dig a separate pond to provide water for cattle.
This explains the pathetic situation prevailing in the district, more particularly in Narayanakhed area.
“After grazing for fodder, the shepherds divert them here to have water and this takes places every afternoon. People can ask and fight for water but these animals cannot. That is why we are allowing the animals to have water at these spring wells,” said M. Rajaratnam, Deputy Executive Engineer, Rural Water Supply (RWS).
There are incidents where farmers are selling their cattle, unable to feed and supply water to them.
Some of them are selling one or two cattle, keeping the remaining with them, hoping that things will change in rainy season.
“We are not sure how we can pass summer without water. The situation is deteriorating day by day. Some of the farmers are selling cattle as they feel that feeding cattle would be burden for them for the next three to four months,” says Dr. Chaitanya, a veterinary doctor.
