A group of farmers from Sonwati village in Latur taluka, Latur district have decided to clean the stream that flows through their village. they want to capture every drop of rain that falls to recharge the groundwater. From April 21-25, a group of 50 students from various areas of Maharashtra are coming to the village to do shramdaan to clean the village stream. In this pic, villagers are standing along the silted stream
Ram Vithal Valse, 81 years old farmer from Sonwati village in Latur taluka, Latur district claims 1972 drought of Maharashtra was not as terrible as 2016 drought. In 1972, there was lack of food grains but water was available within 20 feet. Now, groundwater not available till 1000 feet also. His mango trees are also dying. He had 50 mango trees and now only 9 are left.
Ram Vithal Valse and his wife pose with the only cattle they are left with. Five years ago, they had 10-12 cattle. But, shortage of water and fodder forced them to sell all their cattle. Now only a cow and its calf are left. One cattle needs 50 kg fodder a day and about 20 litres of water. Value recently sold his 2 oxen for Rs 1 lakh.
Sonwati village in Latur taluka, Latur district. The dugwell near temple has gone dry. Women spend entire day sitting at the bottom of the dried up dugwell to fill water in the pot using a glass. Filing one pot takes at least 30 mins. Women are facing the brunt of Marathwada's drought.
Mamta Devi of Sonwati village spends major portion of her day just filling water from a dried up dugwell near the village temple. She has developed severe neck and back pain due to carrying water up the hillock to her house.
District administration has acquired three private borewell in Sonwati village in Latur taluka, Latur district, which have some water. It pays Rs 3000 a month to borewell owner. Village women have to walk 2 kms to fetch water. Their houses are on a hillock so they have to carry pot and climb up the hillock. And, repeat this exercise morning and evening.
District administration has acquired three private borewell in Sonwati village in Latur taluka, Latur district, which have some water. It pays Rs 3000 a month to borewell owner. Village women have to walk 2 kms to fetch water. Their houses are on a hillock so they have to carry pot and climb up the hillock. And, repeat this exercise morning and evening.
Dried up sugarcane in Latur district. Three years of consecutive drought, scanty rainfall and dipping groundwater has lead to drying up of sugarcane crop, which is now being used as fodder for cattle.
A common sight in Latur's villages. Umargaon in Latur taluka has 500 families. District administration has acquired 2 private borewells. Drinking water is being supplied at 4 water supply points after every 4 days. If one water supply point gets water today, its next turn will come after 4 days. Last year we were getting water every 2 days. This year, its after 4 days. Situation is very bad. If this year we do not get good rainfall, then survival wil be difficult, a villager.
There is no work under MNREGA. The last time we got work under MNREGA was some 7-8 years ago. Never after that. How will poor survive this unprecedented drought? asks Mahanandabai, another Dalit lady from Deogarah village in Chakurtaluka of Latur
I have an acre land on which I mostly grow soyabean. Four years ago, I used to get 7-8 quintal of soyabean which fetched me Rs 30,000. Since last two years, there is no crop at all. There is no work in he village. My husband now drives an autorickshaw in Latur city, Devshala Kamble of Deogarah village in Chakurtaluka of Latur.
Dalit families in Deogarah village in Chakurtaluka of Latur allege they had demanded work under MNREGA from agriculture dept two months ago. Rather than employing villagers, the work of two farm ponds was completed within days by using heavy machinery. These Dalit farmers barely have an acre or 2 acre land. Due to drought, they cannot do farming. And, there is no work available under MNREGA. These families have now decided to hold a pradarshan and rally and force district administration to give it work under MNREGA. Else they all are ready to go to jail.
Watershed map of Harangul village in Latur taluka. Villagers have collected Rs 1.5 crore and are deepening the river and streams flowing through the village's farmland. They have used heavy machinery and JCBs to deepen 18 kms of river stretch. They have dug open 10-18 feet of river, which experts claim is not a good way to recharge rainwater.
Political activists, employees of Art Of Living, industrialists, rich residents of Latur are digging 18 kms of Manjara River, which has gone completely dry and used to supply water to Latur city. They are using JCBs to dig the river and it is a highly controversial project. Art Of Living is carrying out several such controversial river rejuvenation projects in various districts of Maharashtra.
Miling Bembalkar, a resident of Latur city has been harvesting rainwater for the last 15 years. The capital investment was Rs 5000 only. Even with 20 inch rain, he easily recharges 125,000 litres of water per year, which is enough to meet water needs of his family of 4 for 3 months. In spite of severe drought and water scarcity in latur city, Bembalkar'sborewell still has water and he is not facing any water shortage.