This is Dhirubhai Ambani's birthplace. Located right on the coast, it is one of the hundreds of villages along Gujarat's 1600-km coastline which have been inflicted by salinity of soil. Kukasvada, which has a population of 10,000, does not have sweet water wells. Villagers have stopped getting drinking water in the taps. The few rich families here purchase water from private tankers at Rs 350 per 1,000-litre. Others travel several kilometres to fetch water. It does not help being the birthplace of the biggest creator of wealth in India. The Ambanis built a primary health centre and high school here. The town held non-stop prayers for Dhirubhai's recovery after a long period of hospitalisation, before the end finally came on July 6, 2002. But, the government has stopped water supply to Ambani's native village as the gram panchayat defaulted on payments of water cess totalling Rs two lakh. "Unless the villagers make the payments, the panchayat will not be able to clear the arrears and have the water supply restored," says Kukasvada sarpanch Bhima Bhadarka. Dhirubhai was about 10 years old when his father, Hirachandbhai, sold off the ancestral house and moved to Chorwad, five km away, to teach in a school there. Like him, many villagers have migrated because of the harsh conditions. Those who stayed behind live in poverty. They earn an average of Rs 60 as daily wages in towns like Mangrol, Chorvad and Keshod, but travelling to and fro itself eats up Rs 10 to Rs 20. Left with no options, the panchayat has decided that till villagers pay up the water cess dues, the panchayat will not issue any documents like caste and income certificates. Villagers say if an industry was to come in, it can provide employment locally. "We are proud of the Ambanis' rise as the richest Indians. It will be great if they can do something about water and emploment in Kukaswada," says Bhardarka.