Water is more precious than gold in thirsty Dholai

Over the years, things have changed, but only for Patel: from a bullock cart he has graduated to a water-tanker; from a humble hut to a palatial house. For the hundreds of Dholai residents, however, the water scarcity is a constant. And never mind the politicians promising the moon and water supply in exchange of votes before every election.

Strangely enough, though, there is little rancour in the village towards Patel, possibly because they know that he is their lifeline. Says Daya Ram, a villager, “The people have learnt to live with the problem. Three years ago, the sarpanch collected Rs 30 from each family to lay water pipes from Malwan. A number of meetings were also held. But to no effect.”

So, the relatively better off continue to shell out Rs 200 each month for their drinking water. And those who can’t, trek three km every day to Malwan the nearest village to have sweet-water wells.

With their menfolk engaged mostly in fishing, and therefore, away from home for nine months a year, it is the Dholai women who have to pay the price, literally. Admits Jaykishanbhai, a fisherman, “I really don’t know how acute the water problem is.”

According to sarpanch Jashodaben, geologists surveyed the village five years ago, but could not trace any underground water source at all. “Even after digging 150 feet deep, the water that came out was saline”, she claims.

The only solution to Dholai’s problem, it seems is a water connection from Malwan. But a problem arises there as well: all the sweet-water wells in the village are private. And no one, including Patel, is willing to provide a connection, says Jayrambhai Patel, a village elder.

Govindbhai Patel, Congress president of Gandevi taluka in which this village is included, believes that Dholai can source its drinking water from Malwan if the gram panchayat of the latter village pass a resolution stating they have no objection to it.

But since their “uncooperative attitude” precluded that possibility, the government could acquire land in Malwan and dig a well to supply water to Dholai, he suggests, adding that if the BJP government, which had promised to provide water to every village, did not keep its word, the Gandevi unit of the Congress would launch a stir.

When asked why the Congress government had not done anything during its regime, Patel, who contested the assembly elections from this constituency, was at a loss for an answer.

When contacted, State Water Supply Minister Narottam Patel says he has never been told about the problem of Dhaloi. However, he says, he would ask his officers to look into the problem and prepare a plan for the village. “I can even have a separate scheme for Dhaloi, provided the villagers demand one”, he adds.

Maybe the Karsan BJP MLA, whose constituency covers Dhaloi, did not consider the issue vital enough to present before his minister!