Maharashtra Water Crisis: Women in Nashik Village Forced to Walk Over 3 km Through Dense Forests to Fetch Water Amid Intense Heat

In Darewadi, a remote tribal village in Igatpuri taluka, women are facing a serious water crisis. Known as the “home of rain,” the area is now struggling for even a sip of water as the summer heat dries up wells and water sources.

The village well that once provided water has completely dried up. Even the smaller wells in the wadi (hamlet) have reached the bottom. With no water nearby, tribal women are forced to walk over 3 kilometers through forested mountain valleys to fetch water from the Bham Dam. This journey is not only long and exhausting but also dangerous. Carrying children and babies with them, they climb rocky paths twice a day—early in the morning and again in the evening after returning from work.

Their path runs through dense forest areas, where there is always the fear of wild animals. Despite these risks, they have no choice but to make the journey to collect water for their families.

To tackle this crisis, the Nashik district administration has approved a water scarcity plan worth Rs 8.8 crore. The focus of this plan is to provide drinking water to villages like Darewadi, especially during the peak summer months. The plan includes deploying water supply tankers to deliver water to the most affected and remote areas.

The situation in Darewadi highlights the urgent need for sustainable water solutions in tribal and hilly regions, where access to basic necessities remains a daily struggle.