No water supply, no wedding bells in rural Thane

Besides being the elixir of life, water has also become the elixir of love in Thane district. The erratic supply and lack of potable water is a big problem in Thane district, so much so, that it is giving prospective grooms many sleepless nights.

Prashant Ambulkar, a social activist, says, "I have been working here for the past many years. Many have shared that they would only let their daughter marry into a family which has uninterrupted potable water supply at their home. People first inquire about water supply with the groom's family, and later about property and other aspects. Many prefer to get their daughters married to grooms living in the city where water problems are not so bad."

With water supply now being a deciding factor for marriages, parents also find it difficult to choose grooms from tanker-fed and non-tanker fed villages as both of them have their own inherited problems.

Suresh Sondkar from NGO Jaggar Foundation says, "Water has always been a basic necessity of life and widespread pollution and depletion of the water table has made it a precious commodity. In urban areas, the corporation ensures water supply, but rural ones are neglected. The women of the house have to travel long distances to get water, which affects their education and attendance in school."

Talking about the Ghorbade family, Ambulkar says, "The parents are looking for a suitable match for their 25-year-old daughter for the past six months, but can't find a suitable groom as nobody fulfills their criteria of uninterrupted water supply."

Life has been difficult for villagers as every summer, their ponds, wells and even lakes dry up. The authorities don't bother to help them, and amidst all these crises, the parents worry about the marriage of their children. Now, more than looking for a well-to-do family, they are looking for a groom who has this basic commodity at his house..

This year again, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), along with the district collectorate, has made a Rs 32 crore plan to ensure water supply in all parts of the district. However, the project might take some time to get started.