Water Scarcity Plagues Kopurli Khurd Village Near Nashik

Nestled just 55 kilometers from Nashik city, Kopurli Khurd village is a stark contrast to urban comforts. With no access to piped water supply, the 2000 residents share a common struggle for water, epitomizing the unfulfilled dream of "Nal se jal" (water from taps). Instead of taps, the village relies on common wells, replenished by water tankers. Every morning, women queue up at these wells, spending hours fetching water for daily chores. Aruna Gaikwad describes their relentless routine, where procuring water consumes most of their day, leaving little time for other tasks or earning a livelihood. Ranjana Gaikwad highlights the onset of water scarcity from April onwards, worsening with each passing month. Even when water is available, it's often unfit for consumption, leading to health issues like diarrhoea, as shared by Ranjana Kamdi, a local clinic worker. Villagers pay a premium for water, with a drum costing 60 rupees for non-drinking purposes and roughly 1 rupee per liter for drinking water. Despite a zilla panchayat water tank, it runs dry in summer, further exacerbating the crisis. With aspirations limited to piped water, the villagers' plight epitomizes the urgent need for sustainable solutions.