Water woes: MNS activists vandalise irrigation office in Pune

Activists were protesting against the sharing of water in city reservoirs with neighbouring towns reeling under water shortage

MNS activists today allegedly vandalised state Irrigation Department's office here protesting against the sharing of water in city reservoirs with neighbouring towns reeling under water shortage, police said.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists barged into 'Sinchan Bhavan' and the damaged office furniture, shouting slogans against Pune District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat's decision to release in phases one TMC water from Khadakwasla dam to Daund and Indapur talukas, effective today.

"None of the protesters have been detained as they fled the scene after the sudden demonstration," an officer in city police control room said.

Although Bapat has maintained that the decision would not result in further water cut applicable to Pune, city Mayor (NCP) Prashant Jagtap criticised the measure saying the civic body was not consulted before the announcement on water sharing that would aggravate the water crisis in the city.

"The Guardian Minister himself has made things difficult for people and announced his decision to share water without taking Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) into confidence," Jagtap said.

The residents of Pune are at present getting municipal water supply from Khadakwasla dam every alternate day.