With temperatures in Nagpur breaching 45 degrees Celsius, the demand for water tankers has surged sharply, but a growing diesel shortage is now threatening to bring the city’s water supply network to a halt.
The number of tankers operating in Nagpur district has jumped by 50 in just 15 days. Diesel pumps across several localities are running dry, and tankers that do manage to fuel up are receiving only 30 litres per vehicle — barely enough for a single village run. A tanker that once made multiple trips daily is now forced to make just one, severely hitting water delivery to residential areas and farmlands.
District authorities have directed petrol pump owners to prioritise diesel supply to water tankers, and the district supply department has been placed on alert to monitor the situation. The district’s rural water supply department confirmed that no tanker operator has yet complained of a complete diesel stoppage, but the situation remains precarious.
Currently, 99 villages and 588 hamlets across Nagpur district are being served by over dozens of tankers. Around 1,63,438 people are dependent on these tankers for drinking water. Private tankers have also been deployed by the district administration to fill the gap.
With the kharif sowing season approaching, authorities have been warned the crisis could worsen further.
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