Water crisis deepens in MP border village:Villagers travel half-kilometre daily as taps remain dry for last two years

Amid soaring summer temperatures, residents of a small village in Madhya Pradesh are depending on neighbouring Rajasthan for drinking water as government tap connections remain dry even after two years. In Fatehpur village of Khilchipur block in Rajgarh district, villagers travel nearly half a kilometre every day to fetch water from a well located across the Rajasthan border. Women carrying pots and farmers transporting empty drums on bullock carts under the scorching afternoon sun have become a daily sight in the village. Three hand pumps and one well, but no drinking water Fatehpur village, located around 40 kilometres from the Rajgarh district headquarters, falls under the Bawdikheda village panchayat. The village has nearly 25 households and a population of around 200. Despite official claims of providing tap water to every household, the village continues to struggle with severe water scarcity. According to villagers: Pipelines were laid and taps installed outside homes under the government’s tap water scheme, but not a single drop of water has flowed through them so far. Dry taps and exposed pipelines scattered across the village now stand as reminders of incomplete infrastructure work. “Children’s studies are suffering due to water crisis” Villager Gajraj Singh Gurjar said fetching water has become the biggest part of daily life. “We bring water from a well in Rajasthan, nearly half a kilometre away. Women, elderly people and even small children have to help in carrying water,” he said. “The taps exist, but there is no water supply. We spend our mornings arranging water before going to work in the fields or for labour jobs. Even children’s studies are getting affected because of the daily struggle,” he added. Villagers say pipelines were ever connected Another resident, Kalu Singh, pointed to exposed pipes lying beside the road. “The pipeline was laid under the tap water scheme two years ago, but the pipes were never connected properly. Contractors installed taps, but without functional connections, how will water reach homes?” he questioned. Women in the village said the crisis worsens during summer, forcing families to make multiple trips every day even in extreme heat. Officials cite rocky terrain and ongoing work Khilchipur block CEO Govind Singh Solanki admitted that the village was facing a serious water problem. He said the Rajasthan-Madhya Pradesh border lies very close to the village, making cross-border water dependence possible within a short distance. “It is unfortunate that people, including children and elderly residents, are forced to leave the village for basic drinking water. The area has rocky terrain and work under the tap water scheme is still underway,” he said. According to Solanki, three agencies are involved in the project, including Larsen Toubro, which is laying the pipeline network. He added that the project is currently under monitoring and will eventually be handed over to the village panchayat after completion. Meanwhile, Khilchipur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ankita Jain said the Public Health Engineering Department has been informed and immediate action would be taken if water supply is not reaching the village. Daily life revolves around finding water For now, life in Fatehpur revolves entirely around arranging water. Every morning begins with empty pots, and every evening ends with uncertainty over where the next day’s water will come from. Villagers sitting beside dry taps and looking toward Rajasthan for survival continue to raise uncomfortable questions about the reality of rural water supply claims.