As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections loom over Sangli’s political landscape, a poignant narrative emerges from the drought-ridden villages of Maharashtra’s Satara district.
Residents, grappling with acute water scarcity and disillusioned by the apathy of local politicians, voice a fervent desire to integrate their villages into neighboring Karnataka. In the arid expanse of Jath taluka, exemplified by villages like Jalihalkhurd, the struggle for survival amidst relentless drought has reached a tipping point. Khandu Borgaonkar, a prominent resident, articulates the collective sentiment, lamenting the profound neglect suffered at the hands of Maharashtra’s political apparatus. With water scarcity reaching dire proportions, villagers endure daily odysseys spanning 15-20 kilometers in pursuit of the most basic necessity potable water.
The plight of Jalihalkhurd epitomizes the broader crisis afflicting regions along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, where access to water has become a scarce commodity. Government-supplied tankers, arriving once every ten days, offer a meager reprieve amidst mounting desperation. Faced with the specter of relocation, villagers contemplate a future in Karnataka, where governance appears more responsive to the needs of its populace. However, beneath the surface of this narrative lies a deeper question of governance efficacy and political accountability. While Maharashtra’s political discourse often centers on linguistic pride and cultural identity, the fundamental imperative of addressing the pervasive hunger and deprivation induced by drought remains unaddressed.
Amidst this existential struggle, the logistical challenges of water procurement loom large. Villagers, forced to traverse considerable distances to secure water from neighboring villages, confront the harsh realities of their predicament on a daily basis. Meanwhile, the burgeoning water market fueled by plummeting groundwater levels underscores the economic ramifications of environmental degradation. In this crucible of adversity, Sangli’s electorate stands at a crossroads, torn between loyalty to linguistic identity and the pragmatic pursuit of survival. As the electoral rhetoric intensifies, political stakeholders are compelled to confront the stark realities of governance failure and heed the clarion call for decisive action to alleviate the suffering of drought-affected communities.
