Shahapur: The hilltop village of Dapurmal, a remote adivasi hamlet of around 325 people perched above the Upper Vaitarna dam in Thane district's Shahapur taluka, approximately 120 kilometers from Mumbai, will finally be connected to the world via a motorable road. For decades, villagers had to trek for hours over hilly terrain to reach neighboring villages for household supplies, medical aid, higher education, water, and even work.
NGO Steps In After Media Report
Following a report in the Times of India on May 11 that highlighted the plight of women and young girls forced to trek eight kilometers through steep terrain to collect drinking water, the Mumbai-based NGO Chandra Hasmukh Soni Foundation offered to construct the long-awaited road. Vishal Gangar of the foundation confirmed that all formalities related to permissions and execution of the road work have been completed. He added that actual construction is expected to begin within the next two to three days.
Shahapur division tehsildar Parmeshwar Kasule also confirmed that all major permissions and formalities, including forest clearances, have been obtained, and work is expected to commence through the NGO this week. Kasule further stated that a direct water supply project from Middle Vaitarna for the village is in its final stages. The work is nearing completion, and supply will begin shortly.
Decades of Isolation and Hardship
Villagers pointed out that the absence of a motorable road kept Dapurmal cut off not only from water tankers but also from basic facilities such as healthcare, transport, and education. According to locals, Shahapur taluka has nearly 160 villages and hamlets facing water scarcity, but most receive tanker supply because they have motorable roads. The district administration operates around 37 tankers in various villages during summer, but Dapurmal remains inaccessible due to its terrain.
Every morning, residents—mostly women and young girls—walk nearly eight kilometers through steep and rocky forest paths to fetch water from the Middle Vaitarna dam region, which ironically supplies water to millions of Mumbaikars. The return journey, carrying heavy pots on their heads under the scorching heat, often takes close to four hours.
Rekha Pardhi, a villager, described the ordeal: "We have been facing this every summer for years. The well near our homes dries up between March and June. We have no option but to walk through the hills to bring water. Carrying a full pot back on the uneven path is extremely difficult. Many times we have to stop midway and rest." Another villager added, "Had there been a road, tankers could have easily reached us too. During elections, leaders come here asking for votes and promising roads, but they never return after being elected."
Previous Efforts and Challenges
Villagers recalled that in August 2025, former Thane Zilla Parishad CEO Rohan Ghuge, along with officials, trekked nearly five kilometers through the hilly stretch after learning about their plight. Following the visit, some patchwork for a kaccha road and construction of a single classroom structure were undertaken. However, villagers said the work remains far from sufficient. The path is still extremely risky and difficult due to the hilly route, especially during the monsoon.
Several NGOs and social organizations had attempted to intervene earlier, but the proposed road alignment falls under forest land, resulting in years of delays over permissions and approvals. Activist Nutan Desai, who has worked extensively on water access in remote villages across Maharashtra, said Dapurmal's situation remains among the most challenging she has encountered. "I have worked in difficult regions of Palghar's Wada, Aurangabad, and Jalna, where we managed to provide water through tankers. But in Dapurmal, even tanker access is impossible because there is no road."
Broader Water Supply Plans
The state government is also working on a broader drinking water plan for Shahapur's water-scarce villages through the Bhavali dam project in Nashik district's Igatpuri under the Jal Jeevan Mission. While pipelines and tap connections have been installed in several villages, officials said water supply in many areas may still take time due to pending connectivity work.
