Water Crisis Deepens in Maharashtra Village, Residents Seek Urgent Relief

Residents of Tulshi village in Solapur district have intensified their protest over a prolonged water shortage. Villagers installed a banner declaring the settlement “for sale” with water listed as its price. Around 7,000 residents reportedly depend heavily on tankers after wells, farms, and local ponds dried up. The villagers blame delays in the Sina-Madha Lift Irrigation Scheme for their continuing problems. They say nearby canals have not provided water to their village despite years of government assurances. The protest aims to highlight their demand for a permanent and reliable water supply.

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Villagers Escalate Protest Against Irrigation Delays

Tulshi residents began a hunger strike on September 14 to press authorities for immediate action. They later organised a ‘thali-naad’ protest outside the Madha tehsil office. Villagers said about 800 metres of excavation remains incomplete near the scheme’s seventh and eighth outlets. According to sarpanch Sharad More, the pending work has continued for nearly 26 years. He said completing the excavation could address the village’s water shortage permanently. Residents have warned authorities that they will intensify their agitation if officials fail to resolve the issue soon.

Poor rainfall during the current monsoon has further worsened Tulshi’s existing water shortage. Residents said 14 ponds and several wells in the village have completely dried up. They added that Jal Jeevan Mission works have not solved the problem because the local water sources lack sufficient water. Farming and animal husbandry provide livelihoods for many families in Tulshi. Villagers said the shortage has affected agriculture, livestock, and household needs. More also claimed that water scarcity has contributed to social difficulties, including delays in marriage for many young men.

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Government Funding Has Yet to Deliver Relief for Water

Authorities reportedly approved plans in 2024 to provide water to Tulshi and other drought-prone villages through the Sina-Madha project. In January 2026, officials announced ₹90 lakh for a closed pipeline connecting the scheme with Tulshi’s Bhavani percolation tank. The proposed work aimed to support drinking water and irrigation requirements. However, villagers said they have not seen concrete progress despite repeated representations. They claimed officials prepared the required proposal and estimate for the pipeline project. Residents continue demanding that authorities complete the pending work and provide water to the village.

Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharne acknowledged Tulshi’s water crisis while speaking to reporters in Pune. He said the state government would extend all possible assistance to address the village’s difficulties. Villagers, however, said they want a permanent solution instead of continued tanker supplies. They have repeatedly approached officials and staged demonstrations over the prolonged shortage. The “Village for Sale, Price: Water” banner has become a symbolic expression of their frustration. Residents said their agitation will continue until authorities provide a dependable source of drinking and irrigation water.

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