Although the BJP has been in power in Gujarat for nearly three decades, the much hyped Gujarat Model is struggling to provide safe drinking water to its people.
The Saurashtra region, Kutch, North Gujarat, and parts of tribal pockets in Central and South Gujarat are experiencing a severe water crisis due to rising mercury levels. It is reported that over 20 districts are severely affected, with towns and villages getting water only twice a week. Through tankers, drinking water is supplied to more than 500 villages in 14 districts.
When Modi was Chief Minister of the State, he promised to resolve drinking water issues, but 20 years later, the problem persists. Modi was reminded of his promise to provide drinking water by about 50,000 women from 125 villages under Karmavad lake and Mukteshwar dam in North Gujarat.
During his 2002 election campaign in Kheralu village of Mehsana district, Modi had said: “Tum Ramila Ben ki jholi vote se bhar dho; Main tumhare Chimnabai Sarovar ko paani se bhar dunga…” (If you give votes to Ramila Ben (BJP candidate), I will fill Chimnabai Sarovar with water).
After 21 years, villagers are still waiting for Chimnabai Sarovar to be filled despite repeated election promises.
Similarly, people are forced to drink unsafe water in villages like Khoda in Banas Kantha district. The State government has not been able to resolve the issue despite several representations.
While in Telangana, the country’s youngest state, dried up lakes and waterbodies have become a thing of the past, and drinking water is now available to every household. It didn’t take 20 years to accomplish this.
With masterpieces like the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, the irrigation focus of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has resulted in an abundance of water in every water body in the State, even in summer. In less than nine years since the State was formed, all this has been accomplished.
The Centre, where the BJP has been in power for the same period of time, has acknowledged Telangana’s water conservation initiatives through Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha.
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