Introduction
In 2016, the city of Latur in Maharashtra faced an unprecedented water crisis. The region had experienced two consecutive years of drought, leading to severe water shortages. The situation became so dire that the state government had to impose Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent fights over drinking water, prohibiting more than five people from gathering around water tankers.
The Launch of "Jaldoot" Train
To alleviate the crisis, the Indian Railways, in collaboration with the Maharashtra government, launched a special train service named “Jaldoot” to transport water to Latur. The train made its first journey on April 11, 2016, traveling 342 kilometers from Miraj in south Maharashtra to Latur. The train carried 10 tanker wagons, each with a capacity of 50,000 liters of water. Over time, the number of wagons was increased to 50, and the train made multiple trips, bringing a total of 4 million liters of potable water to Latur.
Logistics and Operations
The water train was a significant logistical operation. Miraj was chosen as the water source because it had surplus water from the Warna dam, which has a storage capacity of 34 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft). The dam had around 14 tmcft of water left at the time. The water was transported in tanker wagons, which were procured from Kota, Rajasthan, and cleaned before being filled. Each refill took around 12-14 hours before the train could be dispatched to Latur.
Water Distribution in Latur
The water distribution in Latur was meticulously planned to ensure fairness and efficiency. The water was unloaded from the train into a temporary well, pumped to a filtration plant, and then distributed to households. To avoid wastage and unfair distribution, GPS-enabled water tankers were continuously monitored by the Collector Office. The state government also provided police security to water tankers and reservoirs to prevent any malpractices.
Impact and Significance
The Jaldoot train made a significant impact on the lives of Latur’s residents. It provided much-needed relief to the parched city and helped prevent a humanitarian crisis. The initiative was widely appreciated and became a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
Conclusion
The Latur water crisis of 2016 highlighted the importance of effective drought response and relief management. The Jaldoot train, a collaborative effort between the Indian Railways and the Maharashtra government, played a crucial role in alleviating the water shortage in Latur. The success of this initiative demonstrated the power of innovative solutions and collective action in addressing critical challenges.