JOIDA: is one of the Malnad taluks of Uttara Kannada district, which is located in the dense forests of Western Ghats. But this time, Joida is reeling under severe drinking water crisis.

 While entering Joida, the first visual striking the eyes will be of people waiting for tankers to fetch drinking water.

The women quarrelling with each while collecting tanker water is a common scene here. While the voters are struggling for water in Joida taluk, the newly-elected leaders are busy in resort politics. According to local people, they have not come across severe drinking water problem from many decades. But this year there is a lot of drinking water scarcity.

 The people are not getting sufficient water and it has become difficult to feed cattle too. The borewells have dried up and no government has taken up any work to address the drinking water issue in summer.

 Drinking water to half of the villages is being supplied from two streams. Another half of the village is being supplied with water from three borewells.

There was no drinking water problem during rainy and winter seasons. As the summer begins, water level in borewells and streams have come down. From May first week, there is no water in borewells. Vinay Desai, member of Joida Gram Panchayat, said there is a lot of drinking water problem in the village this summer. Out of the two streams, one has dried up.

 All the three borewells have also been totally dried up. As of now, Joida gram panchayat has been supplying tanker water with the help of four tankers and further they are waiting for tahsildar funds to address the drinking water crisis.

 According to sources, there are more than 3,500 people in the village. Half of them are being supplied with stream water and the remaining 1,500 with tanker water, which is not sufficient.

 All the four tankers fetch water from private suppliers and the tankers make 10 trips per day to the villagers. However, the local people are not happy with the elected representatives as they are not bothered about finding a permanent solution to drinking water problem. Not only Joida, other villages in the taluk are also facing water shortage. A Rs 12.5 crore multi-village drinking water supply project has not come true so far.

 Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul said: “There is no fund problem for drinking water supply and the district administration has released funds to all the taluks to address the drinking water crisis. Due to election duty, other officials may not be able to concentrate on the issue. I will direct them to look into it.”