The city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra is facing a very big water problem. People living in this city are getting water only once every eight days. This makes it very hard for them to manage daily activities like cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Many families have to depend on private water tankers. These tankers cost money, and not every family can afford them. Because of this, people are angry and tired. They want the government to fix this issue quickly. They feel the city should have regular water supply just like other cities. Life becomes difficult without proper water access.
The Congress party recently announced a protest in Sambhajinagar. The protest was about the ongoing water shortage. Harshwardhan Sapkal, who is the state Congress chief, led this protest. He said the government had failed to solve the water problems of the people. However, some people in the city questioned the timing of this protest. They asked why the Congress party had waited so long to speak up. When the water project missed its deadline last year, no political party made noise. People feel political leaders only act when elections are near or for gaining attention.
The water project that was supposed to solve the city’s water crisis is worth Rs 2,740 crore. This project was very important because it was expected to provide clean water to the entire city. But even after spending so much money, the project is still not complete. It has missed several deadlines. The first deadline was March 2024. Then it was pushed to December 2024. Now, it is expected to be completed by March 2025. Every time the deadline is missed, people lose more hope and trust in the government’s ability to finish the work.
The project was started with big hopes and promises. The aim was to build a strong water system that would supply clean drinking water to all parts of the city. The project had many parts, including setting up pipelines, storage tanks, and pumping stations. But the progress has been very slow. Reports say that the agency in charge of the project only had Rs 10 crore left, while they owed the contractor Rs 90 crore. Because of this, the contractor stopped or slowed down the work. Without enough money, work on the project could not continue smoothly.
The state government had promised to pay the city’s share of the project cost, which was around Rs 822 crore. But as of mid-2024, this money had not been given. This made the financial problem worse. The contractor could not pay his workers or buy materials. Machines and workers were not available when needed. The result was more delays and frustration. People began to feel that no one really cared about them. They were tired of broken promises and slow work. They wanted quick action and proper use of public money for their basic needs like water.
Apart from money problems, there were also technical issues in the project. A special committee made by the Bombay High Court studied the project. This committee found that some parts of the work were delayed by more than 80 days. In some areas, work was 181 days behind schedule. Many storage tanks were still not finished. Approvals for some construction work had also not been given. The contractor said he did not have enough workers and machines. These excuses made the public even more upset. They felt there was no proper planning or control over such an important project.
Another party, Shiv Sena (UBT), also started protests in the city. Their campaign was called “Labadanno Pani Dya,” which means “Cunning people, give us water.” Between April and May 2025, they held 90 different protests. These protests included painting slogans on walls, using empty pots as symbols, holding meetings, and performing street plays. Thousands of people took part in these events. Shiv Sena leaders said that the water project cost had gone up from Rs 1,680 crore to Rs 2,740 crore. This was an extra burden of over Rs 1,000 crore on the people. They blamed poor planning and government mistakes.
The Bombay High Court also showed concern over the slow progress of the project. The court said it had believed the contractor’s promises for two years. But the contractor did not keep his word. The court said it would not stay quiet anymore. It was time for action. The judges reminded everyone that water is a basic need. They said the people of Sambhajinagar had suffered enough. The court also wanted the government to take strong steps to ensure the work is completed soon. The court’s words gave people some hope that the matter would now be taken seriously.
People in the city feel very let down. The cost of the project has almost doubled, yet they still do not have water. They see so much money being spent, but no results. Every time a new deadline comes, they hope it will be the last. But the work keeps getting delayed. They feel that politicians are using the water issue for votes. Leaders blame each other but do nothing real. People want answers. They want clean water. They do not want more excuses or fights between parties. They just want the work to be finished so they can live normally.
Some local politicians tried to blame their rivals. Atul Save, a local BJP MLA and cabinet minister, said the earlier MVA government did not complete the project. He claimed that the present government was fixing the issue. But people do not believe these claims. They remember that every party has been in power at some point. Yet, the water problem remains the same. Every government promises water, but fails to deliver. The citizens are tired of political blame games. They are demanding accountability, not speeches. They want real work, not just words, to solve the water crisis.
There are reports that two big government bodies, MJP and NHAI, had kept some technical issues hidden. These issues were causing delays, but they were not shared with the court-appointed committee. This made people more angry. They feel cheated. They say that hiding problems only makes them worse. If the problems had been known earlier, maybe they could have been fixed faster. Now, these hidden problems have delayed the project even more. People want full transparency in such important projects. They want to know where their money is going and why there are so many problems.
The water shortage has affected every part of life in Sambhajinagar. Families struggle to store enough water. Children miss school because they help collect water. Elderly people suffer due to lack of clean water. Some people get sick from using dirty water. The government had promised a better life through this big project, but nothing has improved. People are angry and sad. They want their lives to return to normal. They believe that water is a basic right. It should not be a luxury. They say they will keep protesting until their voices are heard and action is taken.
People are also asking for water to be supplied free through tankers in areas where there is no tap water. They say it is not fair to make them pay for water when the government has failed. Private tankers charge a lot of money. Poor families cannot afford them. These families suffer the most. The rich can buy water, but the poor must wait and suffer. This has created anger in the community. People want justice. They say the government should at least give them water through tankers until the project is completed. It is the least they can do.
Many people also feel that the project should have been planned better. They say if there was proper planning and teamwork, the work could have been finished long ago. Instead, they see delay after delay. They say there is too much corruption and mismanagement. Big projects like this should help people, not create more problems. They are asking for an investigation into how the money was spent. They want to know why the work is taking so long. They believe that only with honest work and good planning can the city’s water problem be solved for good.
The situation in Sambhajinagar is a big lesson for other cities. It shows what happens when government promises are not kept. It shows how poor planning and lack of responsibility can hurt people’s lives. Water is not a luxury. It is something every person needs every day. The people of Sambhajinagar are still waiting for that simple need to be fulfilled. They hope their voices will reach the top leaders. They hope the project will finally be completed. Until then, they will continue to protest, speak up, and fight for their basic right to water. They are not giving up.