Shirur Faces Severe Water Shortage as Wells, Borewells Dry Up; Farmers Seek Chaskaman Water
Pune, 5th October 2026: Several villages in Shirur taluka are facing a worsening water shortage as inadequate rainfall has caused water levels in wells and borewells to decline sharply. The emerging drought-like situation has affected drinking water supplies, agriculture and livestock, adding to the financial burden on farmers and rural residents.
The shortage has become particularly serious in villages where government lakes and other local water sources are drying up. Residents have urged the administration to take immediate measures to address the crisis and fill government lakes with water from the Chaskaman Dam.
The delayed rainfall has also affected the kharif season. Many crops have either been damaged or recorded lower yields, raising concerns about shortages of pulses and bajra in the coming months. The declining groundwater levels have further delayed sowing for the rabi season, with farmers unable to proceed with crops such as jowar, gram and wheat.
Farmers are facing a double burden of reduced agricultural production and rising input costs. Prices of fertilisers, labour and other agricultural expenses have increased, while inadequate rainfall has resulted in lower output. With expenditure exceeding income, many farmers are facing serious financial difficulties.
Former Shirur-Haveli MLA Ashok Pawar urged the administration to assess the drought situation immediately and fill government lakes in various villages with Chaskaman water.
He also demanded that crop damage assessments, or panchnamas, be conducted without delay and that affected farmers be provided compensation at the earliest. Pawar further called for immediate action to address drinking water and fodder shortages.
Dinesh Gaikwad, former member of the Kondhapuri Gram Panchayat, said the water level in the government lake at Kondhapuri has fallen considerably.
Several drinking water and agricultural water supply schemes in Kondhapuri, Ranjangaon Ganpati and Shikrapur depend on the lake. According to Gaikwad, filling the lake with Chaskaman water could provide relief to farmers and residents and prevent the situation from worsening.
The government lake in Kasari village has reportedly dried up completely, raising concerns over drinking water for residents and livestock as well as the village’s water supply.
Shivaji Kalkute, former Gram Panchayat member from Kasari, said that if Chaskaman water is released into the lake, it could help meet the water requirements of farmers, livestock and residents. If rainfall remains inadequate, the village may soon have to seek tanker water supplies again.
Residents have also demanded desilting and deepening of the government lake and the construction of borewells in different hamlets and settlements. Existing borewells also need to be repaired to strengthen the village’s water infrastructure.
Vasant Pawar, Gram Panchayat Officer of Kasari, said a memorandum seeking immediate measures to address the drought situation and water shortage in the village had been submitted to the Block Development Officer.
With rainfall remaining inadequate and local water sources rapidly declining, residents across Shirur taluka are now urging the administration to implement emergency water conservation and supply measures before the shortage intensifies further.
