Thirst pangs lead to violence in various states
fights over water have begun, although summer is yet to peak. Hit by severe water scarcity, the states of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have reported incidents of violence and major protests over the past few weeks.
Women in Amreli, Manavadar and Rajkot, staged dharnas demanding more supply of water in the last week of March. Protests have now spread to Dhoraji and Junagarh. For the third year in a row, these people of Saurashtra are suffering from a water crisis.
In Dhoraji, residents surrounded the municipality office demanding more water. Nearly two thousand women ransacked the office of the mamlatdar (municipal officer) in the first week of April. In Savarkundla too, people staged protests by taking out a 'lantern' procession against non-availability of water. Following the decrease in flow in the Kurnool-Cuddapah canal, people in Andhra Pradesh forcibly took away water tankers from the premises of the district administration.
In spite of an acute water crisis, the administration remains a mute spectator. Says, Shyamji Bhai Antala of Dhoraji in Gujarat, a pioneer in water harvesting in Gujarat, "There is no shortage of water, but only governmental mismanagement and apathy."
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.