fazTimes media: Solapur, Maharashtra— Under the harsh summer sun, people in Solapur are living a daily struggle. In many homes, especially on the outskirts of the city, water doesn’t come every day anymore. For some, it comes just once a week. When it does, families drop everything to fill buckets, wash clothes, and do all the cleaning they’ve been putting off.

Locals are blaming one thing in particular: the huge coal power plant set up by NTPC on the city’s edge.

In 2017, this 1,320-megawatt coal-based power plant was opened to help meet India’s growing electricity needs. It brought lights and power to cities, but it also started using large amounts of water, water that people here say used to be theirs. Now, Solapur is caught in a growing fight between two basic needs: electricity and water.

A Bigger Problem Across the Country

India is planning to spend around ₹6.5 lakh crore (about $80 billion) on new coal power projects by 2031. But there’s a big problem: most of these new power plants are planned in areas where water is already hard to find.

Government papers show that 37 out of 44 new coal plants are being built in places that don’t have enough water. And NTPC alone is running nine such projects, getting almost all their water from areas already struggling. Experts are warning that while these plants might help with power cuts, they could also lead to serious fights over water shortly.

“We Get Water Only Once in Eight Days.”

Rajani Thoke, a mother of two, lives in a low-income area outside Solapur. She says her life now revolves around the day water comes. “When water comes, everything else stops. The whole day goes in filling cans, washing clothes, and cleaning,” she says. A few years ago, water came every other day. Now, it’s sometimes only once a week, or less. Locals say things got worse after the NTPC plant started using water. City officials admit the water system hasn't kept up with Solapur’s growing population. But many believe the water going to the power plant is making things worse.

Power at a Cost

Former Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who supported the plant during its early days, says it helped bring jobs and money to the area. “There was nothing here in 2008. The plant brought hope. Farmers were paid well for their land,” he said. The plant indeed created jobs for thousands during its construction, and around 2,500 locals now have part-time or maintenance jobs. But for many families, that’s not enough when they don’t have enough water to drink or cook. Ironically, even the plant couldn’t start working on time back then because it didn’t have enough water.

Not Just Solapur

Solapur’s story is not unique. Other big power plants in Maharashtra, like the Chandrapur Super Thermal Plant, face the same issues. During dry years, some of their units have had to shut down due to a lack of water.

Still, the government is planning to build even more of them without confirming where the water will come from. “Coal is still India’s main source of power,” says former Energy Secretary Ram Vinay Shahi. “We still use far less power than countries like China. Right now, coal is the priority.”

Environment Comes Second

India is making progress in solar and wind power, but coal still runs most of the country’s electricity. Many old coal plants that were supposed to shut down are still running to meet rising electricity demand after COVID-19.

Reports say that coal power plants in India use up to twice as much water as similar plants in other countries. And most are not doing enough to save or recycle water. NTPC says it’s using water-saving methods like recycling wastewater at the Solapur plant. But government records from 2023 show it’s one of the least water-efficient plants in India.

Farmers Are Losing Hope

Dharmes Waghmore, a farmer just 5 kilometers from the NTPC plant, wants to dig a borewell to grow more crops. But he’s afraid. “What if there’s no water underground? I’ll just end up in debt,” he says.

New surveys show that Solapur needs 30% more water than it has just to meet its farming needs. As more water is sent to factories, farmers are being forced to switch to crops that use less water or give up farming altogether. Even local businesses are being affected. “Industries don’t want to invest here because of water problems,” says Kuladeep Jangam, a municipal officer. “Even if land and workers are available, lack of water turns them away.”

What Now?

All this raises tough questions: Should factories be built in places that don’t have enough water? Are the government’s policies helping big companies more than common people? Is it possible to grow as a country without destroying our water sources? Environmental expert Shripad Dharmadhikary says, “These projects may look good politically. But it’s the people on the ground who suffer in the long run.” As Solapur and other cities deal with climate change, rising population, and more factories, we need better rules fast.

A Nation at the Edge

India’s dream of becoming a power-rich country is not wrong. We do need more electricity. But Solapur’s story shows the hidden cost of ignoring the water crisis. There is a better way: choose better places for power plants. Use smarter technology to save water. And invest more in clean, green energy. Until then, people in Solapur will keep waking up at dawn not to switch on a light, but to wait for a few drops of water.

Reported by fazTimes Media, telling real stories from real people.

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