Residents of the century-old Model Mill Chawl in central Nagpur have been surviving without piped water supply for 25 years, relying entirely on tankers — and say repeated electoral promises of tap connections have amounted to nothing.
The dilapidated chawl has no NMC pipeline, no public tap. A main water pipeline runs along the adjoining road, but no connection has been extended into the colony. Every election cycle, candidates collect residents’ Aadhaar cards, photographs and documents with assurances of tap connections — and disappear after polling day. Where tankers cannot enter narrow lanes, residents carry water bucket-by-bucket from the roadside. Tanker driver Jagdish Gharjale said he makes 10 trips daily.
“I am 58 years old. Since childhood, I have been fighting for basic water,” said Suresh Dewale. “Nagar sevaks come, give assurances, nothing moves forward,” he added.
“Election comes, candidates take our documents, promise connections. Once polling ends, the nagar sevak is nowhere to be seen,” said Sangita Gupta.
“Mill water stopped 25 years ago. Since then we depend on tankers. During monsoon, impure water causes frequent illness,” said Atifa Sheikh.
“We asked for a tap connection but never got one. There is no other arrangement,” said Prakash Bayas.
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