| Characteristics of
“Tanker Villages”
A typical tanker village is generally located on
a hill-top or on elevated ground with
respect to the surrounding area. Its population generally
does not exceed 300 people,
mainly Adivasis. Their water supply may be a seasonal
hand dug well (in most cases
constructed by the Panchayat Samiti), pit holes dug in
small stream beds or depressions,
natural seepages (located at the bottom of slopes), and
bunds limiting rice fields. All these
water sources dry up progressively from February onwards
and people are compelled to
walk long distances to collect water from a permanent
water source. Isolated villages
with problems of severe water scarcity in April-May
receive drinking water from water
tankers hired by the Government.
Tanker villages located on elevated ground have little
chance to find groundwater in or
near the village itself. Rainwater runs towards lowlands
and depressions and only a minor
amount of it may infiltrate. Fissures recharged during
the rainy season deplete rapidly
towards the dry season. Therefore, drilling, in most
cases, in not the best solution. The
few boreholes that may strike some water are
characterised by high water level fluctuation
due to the progressively drying up of the tapped shallow
water-bearing fissures.
Most of the tanker villages are not well connected by
all-weather motorable roads and
often are isolated during the wet season.
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