Tanker industry flourish, Jalna reels under water scarcity

The severe drought that has hit Jalna district of Marathwada, Maharashtra, has created a boom in tanker business. According to the local sources, the daily turn-over of water-supply and tanker-making industry is about Rs 3 crore. In Jalna town, about 1,300 vehicles -- large tankers, mini trucks and rickshaws -- are supplying water.

In the rural parts of the district, nearly 4,000 vehicles are engaged in water supply. Vehicles other than tankers are being rigged to turn them into water carriers. Some 300 fabricators in the district currently convert ordinary auto rickshaws or four-wheelers into tankers. Rickshaw owners are fitting their vehicles with 500 litres tank, to sell water.

The water is being sourced from remote areas of the district, because sources in and around the towns have now run dry. Suresh Misal, a tanker owner, told PTI: "A tanker operator purchases 1,000 litres of water for Rs 100 to Rs 200. He sells it at Rs 500 per 1,000 litres."