MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

WATER SUPPLY

Water-supply : In regard to the supply of drinking water to towns, out of four municipal towns in the district, Sangamner and Kopargaon are situated on the banks of rivers Pravara and Godavari, respectively. and do not have difficulties in getting sufficient water-supply. Although Shrirampur town is not endowed with the facility of water-supply from a nearby river, the two jack-wells constructed by the municipality in a nalla nearby, adequately fulfil the need of the town for drinking water. The fourth and biggest town in the district, viz., Ahmadnagar, though situated on the bank of the river Sina, experienced acute shortage of water because the river is comparatively small and does not rise at or pass through a region of heavy rainfall. The city at present gets water from Pimpalgaon tank situated near it, but the water-supply is not adequate. In fact shortage of water in Ahmadnagar which is a historical phenomenon, has hampered the growth of industry and the development of the city. The problem has become difficult since there is no reliable water-source within easy distance from Ahmadnagar.

There is a District Rural Development Board functioning in the district preparing and carrying out schemes of development in the villages. In 1955, 72 villages were selected under the Village Water Supply Scheme. Under the scheme, 45 new wells were constructed, eight step-wells were converted into draw-wells and 49 wells were repaired at a cost of Rs. 76,165; silt was removed from 231 wells and six tanks were cleaned; 23 wells, 25 houds and two tanks were disinfected. 7,169 compost-pits, 9 pucca bandharas, 175 kutcha bandharas and 106 latrines were constructed. In 1956 the Board again selected 59 villages under the Village Water Supply Scheme. Under the scheme 469 new wells were constructed, 24 step-wells were converted into draw-wells and 667 wells were repaired at a cost of Rs. 96,913; silt was removed from 138 wells and eight tanks were cleaned; 602 wells, 52 houds and seven tanks were disinfected; 77 compost-pits and 172 latrines were constructed and six pucca and 106 kutcha bandharas were constructed at a cost of Rs. 47,907.

There is also a combined medical and public health unit in the district in charge of a subsidised medical practitioner. The work done by the unit is given below: —

Table No. 15 gives the position of drinking water facilities available in various villages in the district as in June 1964.

It becomes therefore obvious that this basic need of villages is satisfied by all possible means including digging of bore-wells, construction of tanks, installation of pumps etc.

TABLE No. 15—SOURCES OF HYGIENIC DRINKING WATER-SUPPLY AVAILABLE IN RURAL AREAS OF AHMADNAGAR DISTRICT

(POSITION AS ON 15TH JUNE 1964)

TABLE No. 15 contd.

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