It’s the same water story every summer, say Diva residents

Students, office-goers living in Diva trudge 2kms every day to fetch water

Shinde, 22, frequently misses her lectures at Royal College in Dombivli as she has to travel almost two kilometres to fill water.

A resident of Diva’s Dativali, Shinde is among the thousands of residents who are either late to work or skip office due to the water crisis.

“We do not get water in our taps and have to go almost 2 kms to fill water between 8am to 11am every day. This is the only time when the water is available in Dativali village. My sister-in-law and I carry pots and buckets, trudge across railway tracks, risking our lives,” said Shinde.

This is the story of many residents who hardly get any water supply from Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). Residents claimed that water supply is available only at a common tap in Dativali village from 8am to 11am. There is a long queue of people

at the tap to fill water every day.

Mukesh Shigvan, 45, who lives near Mausam theatre, is always late for work.

“I travel to Vidyavihar for

work and have to report to work at 10.30am and am late most days. I travel 3kms to Dativali village to fill a 10-litre can of water on my bicycle. After that, I leave for work,” said Shigvan.

Subhash Mishra, 47, a resident of Devi Prasad building near Diva station, also travels 3 kms to fill water every day.

“We are facing water crisis for many years. The story is the same every summer. Most of us have to adjust our routine depending on the water supply. The water supply is cut off on Thursdays and Fridays, making our situation worse. The TMC and the elected representatives have only given empty assurances and no water to residents,” said Mishra.

An official from TMCs water department said, “The main reason for water scarcity in Diva is the rampant illegal water connections. Most residents live in the CRZ area where we cannot provide water connections. We are continuously conducting drives against illegal connections in Diva.”

He said the 60-hour water cut imposed by the MIDC has added to the residents’ woes.

“The MIDC used to provide 110 mld water which has been reduced to 66 mld. We have to supply this water across Diva, Mumbra and Kalwa areas,” said the official.

PRAFUL GANGURDE Residents of Dativali village, 3km from Diva, have to walk 2kms to fetch water every day.