People of Vantamuri village in the hilly terrains of Belagavi, with a population of nearly 10,000, may have taps in their homes, but they never see water trickling down them. As summer gets harsher and water scarce, they fetch water from Ghataprabha river flowing near Sutgatti village, about three km away.
A ₹1-crore drinking water supply scheme to draw water from the Ghataprabha and supply to the village was undertaken in 2006-07 and completed five years ago. Every home was provided with taps four years ago. But, till today, they get no water. While some residents fetch water from the river in barrels placed on bullock carts, the rest buy water from private tankers.
The reason for this predicament is rather mysterious. The project is repeatedly sabotaged, with cables connected to the pumping station damaged.
Vantamuri Gram Panchayat president Shivappa Rayappa Vannuri, said: “Every time the connection is restored, it is cut again. Pipelines have also been cut sometimes. We don’t know who is doing it.”
Some villagers suspect private water tanker operators for whom the villagers have become permanent customers to be behind this. Nearly two-third residents buy one or two barrels of water (about 200 litres per barrel) for ₹40 each from the tanker operator every day. On an average, every family spends ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 every month, while Belagavi city pays only ₹220 every month per household. About seven private tankers of 5,000-litre capacity each make five to seven trips to the village every day.
Deputy Commissioner and in charge Regional Commissioner N. Jayaram said measures have been taken to restore the electricity connection to the drinking water supply scheme, and till then, tankers are being pressed into service. The GP is responsible for maintaining the drinking water supply scheme, but there are certain problems that need to be resolved, he said. Meanwhile, the GPs demanded that the miscreants are caught and punished.
