No water in most Mangrol villages

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN Ahmedabad\Mangrol: Fortysix per cent villages of coastal Mangrol in Junagadh district do not have sufficient drinking water. As many as 61 villages are most vulnerable. Pravah, a network working on drinking water had initiated the drinking water and sanitation survey in the state in 2007 as part of a study. The study also shows that 65 per cent villages in Mangrol not having primary health centres (PHC) even when most villagers suffering from water-related diseases. Study shows that most of Mangrol villages depend on underground water sources for drinking water. The most commonly available resources are ponds and handpumps. However, of the 81 ponds in this area, 40 per cent have become saline. Even 35 per cent of the 70 handpumps give saline water. Students of BRS Shardagram College who conducted much of the field work found that their own college was affected by salinity ingress. “As part of the study we have to teach cultivation of different crops. But our professors find it difficult as salinity has affected crop patterns.’’ said Dilip Marthak, principal of the college. “The college also lost it grapes and mango orchards because of salinity. Only salinity-resistant crops can survive now,” added professor Mahesh Gajera of the college. Gajera said that over the year ground water has been going down in these villages. This study also shows that none of the resources are being used above 50 feet. Water is available above 50 feet but not qualitative. Ami Joshi, co-ordinator of Pravah says that the objective of the study was to find out the information on water sources and sanitation amenities in villages of Mangrol taluka.