Compensation for acquired well owners soon

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The Zilla Parishad (ZP) administration had planned water supply through 732 tankers for 545 drought-affected villages between October 2023 and June 2024. To facilitate this, 402 wells were acquired. However, even after a year, farmers who owned these wells have not received their compensation. The water supply department has now decided to compensate these well owners using the savings from funds allocated for tankers, with a provision of Rs 3.17 crore.

Two years ago, the region experienced below-average rainfall, drying up rivers, wells, lakes, and reservoirs. As a result, the district faced water scarcity from winter onwards. The ZP water supply department swiftly arranged for tanker-based water supply to affected villages and hamlets. Despite acquiring wells, farmers have been waiting for their compensation for over a year. Now, the department has proposed using surplus funds from tanker allocations to settle these payments, pending approval from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

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"Water was supplied through tankers from October to May, requiring the acquisition of several wells. Funds were allocated for tanker payments, and the savings will now be used to compensate well owners as per senior officials’ instructions. The process will be completed at the Panchayat Samiti level this week, pending CEO approval."-------------( Executive Engineer, Water Supply Department, ZP Ajit Waghmare)