3.2 lakh residents in Nashik district face severe water shortage, 179 private tankers deployed to tide over scarcity

Nashik: At least 3.2 lakh residents in Nashik district are facing acute water scarcity, forcing the Zilla Parishad’s rural water supply division to press 179 private tankers into service, up from 148 deployed during the same period last year.Officials said the tankers were making 395 trips daily to deliver drinking water to affected areas. “District-wise data shows water scarcity has impacted 654 habitations, including 174 villages and 480 hamlets, leaving around 3.2 lakh residents dependent on tanker supply. A taluka-wise review revealed that Yeola was the worst-affected region, with 82,252 people facing severe water scarcity. In Yeola alone, 44 villages and 70 hamlets are being supplied water through 44 tankers, which together make 80 trips daily, the highest deployment in the district,” an official said.Nandgaon follows as the second most affected area, where 53,216 people across 230 habitations, comprising 38 villages and 192 hamlets, are facing shortages. “To cater to the demand, 36 tankers have been deployed in the taluka,” the official said.The ZP has acquired 77 wells across the district to sustain the large-scale water supply operation. “Of these, 22 wells are designated for direct drinking water supply to villages, while 55 serve as dedicated filling stations for tankers, ensuring uninterrupted operations,” another official said.