Water reached home barely 16 times in 133 days, says Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar residents

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The water crisis in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city refuses to abate, with several neighbourhoods receiving tap water only 15-16 times in the 133 days since Jan 1, exposing a stark gap between official claims and ground reality and raising serious questions over prolonged delays in augmenting supply.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Ambadas Danve said that based on the supply cycle of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Coporation, the city should have received water at least 44 times during this period. “However, in reality, water supply has been provided only 15 to 16 times. While the administration claims that water is supplied every three days, it is beyond comprehension as to why residents of the city are receiving water only once every 15 to 16 days,” he said.

The grim situation persists despite chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’s poll campaign assurance in Jan that the city would receive smooth water supply within “two months” — a promise that residents say remains unfulfilled months later.

Erratic supply is compounded by inconvenient timing. Many localities receive water between midnight and early morning, forcing residents to stay awake. This disrupts daily life.

“While erratic water supply remains an issue, the water supply during odd hours is another issue. We have started believing that it is a curse to live in this city,” said Jyoti Beedkar, a resident.

The burden is especially severe in fringe areas, where residents are increasingly dependent on private water tankers, incurring significant expenses.

“Before the municipal elections, BJP and the CM had promised to ensure daily water supply for the city in a couple of months. However, in reality, the situation has failed to improve,” said Akash Gole, a resident of the Satara area.

Civic authorities have acknowledged repeated disruptions, but failed to account for the actual number of supply days. “No doubt the supply was disrupted on multiple occasions due to breaches in the pipelines and distribution network, among other technical issues. Once completed, the new water supply project will end the water woes,” a senior official said.

However, the Rs 2,740 crore water supply project — touted to be the long-term solution — has already missed multiple deadlines, with no firm timeline for full commissioning, deepening public frustration and eroding confidence in official assurances.

With supply gaps widening, promises unmet, and infrastructure delays continuing, residents say the city’s water crisis is no longer seasonal but systemic, demanding urgent accountability and time-bound action.