BHOPAL: Faced with perennial water crisis and apathy of the government, villagers of Sheopur district have set up their own water supply network from private borewells at many places. Water supply pipelines have been placed parallel to the power supply lines from one electric pole to another over the ground to quench the thirst of the people.

Such an arrangement has been made in villages of Karhal, Raghunthpur, Dhodhr, Soikala and Sahasram panchayats in the tribal-dominated Sheopur district. Owners of the private borewells get Rs 300 to Rs 400 from panchayats for every water connection.

Beniprasad of Karhal village said, “This year we have witnessed one of the hottest summers and all government sources of water supply have dried up. There is no option but to pay to panchayats for a water connection. At least there is a guarantee of water supply.”

Harishram of Soikala said, “I had to walk for two kms to fetch water every day from the nearest tubewell as the government tubewell is not functioning in my village. Now I get water, but at a price”

Sources said that there are more than 3500 connections from private borewells in the villages of 8 panchayats where people pay a hefty amount for water connection every year.

However, district collector Vasant Kurre denied any water scarcity in Sheopur. “There is no water scarcity in Sheopur. Water is being supplied from all government sources whether they are tubewells or piped water schemes. We don’t need to transport water because of all water sources are working properly. If someone has taken private connection, he or she is free to do that”.

Sheopur has already been declared a water scarcity area and according to the district administration atleast 100 human settlements in Vijpur, Karhal and Sheopur development blocks have been facing water crisis.

Such an initative by people can also be seen in Shajapur district and many districts of Bundelkhand where water is a scarce commodity.

