Residents of 10 villages in rural belt of dist demand tankers

Nashik: As water levels begin to recede, at least 10 villages in the rural belts of Nashik district have formally submitted their request for getting drinking water supplies through tankers."The demand has primarily emerged from parched areas within the talukas of Sinnar, Deola, Yeola and Chandwad. The demand also has come from one village in Igatpuri taluka that witnesses heaviest rainfall, but the villages on the higher altitude witnesses shortage as the water levels dip," a senior official from the district administration said.According to the official, these rural communities typically rely on local wells for their daily water needs. However, as these primary sources dry up, villages are becoming increasingly dependent on water supply schemes and tankers."Water is supplied by tankers only to those villages that do not have any regional water supply schemes, or even a well that can be acquired to supply drinking water to the villagers," the official said.The responsibility for verifying these demands and initiating tanker services lies with the respective tehsildar offices. "These offices have to verify and sanction the tankers as of now. When the intensity increases these powers are then transferred to sub-divisional officers as part of monitoring the water situation closely," the official added.District administration data indicates that the 26 major and medium dams across Nashik currently hold 54% of their total 70.6 TMC capacity. Last during the same time, the stock was around 45%.Key storage updates for major complexes include: Gangapur complex that has currently 66% (9.4 TMC capacity) compared to 61% last year. This complex, comprising the Gangapur, Kashyapi and Gautami Godavari dams, is the primary source of water for the NMC.The other is Darna Complex holding 56% (13.4 TMC capacity) up from last year's 42%. This network supplies drinking water to Nashik, Ahilyanagar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts.The Palkhed and Ozarkhed complexes have 46% (8.3 TMC), while Ozarkhed stands at 61% (3.2 TMC) mark. Girna complex serving parts of Nashik and Jalgaon holds 47% of its 23 TMC capacity, an improvement from last year's 38%.