The issue of release of water from Khadakwasla reservoir to Indapur and Daund tehsils in the district today hotted up, with MNS staging a violent protest and corporators from various parties opposing the decision saying it would aggravate the water shortage in Pune city.
A case of rioting and damaging the property was registered
against MNS activists who vandalised Sinchan Bhavan, state Irrigation department's office here, this afternoon.
They protested the District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat's decision to release 1 TMC of water from Khadakwasla reservoir near here to Indapur and Daund.
"We have registered a case against MNS corporator Ravindra Dhangekar and 10 to 12 others," said an officer of Samarth police station. No arrests have been made yet.
Bapat, a senior BJP leader from the city, had said the decision would not result in further water cuts as there was enough water stock for Pune city to last till July.
But the Mayor Prashant Jagtap (NCP) criticized the decision, saying the civic body was not consulted.
Eleven corporators from various parties including the Mayor today approached the Collector and requested a rethink.
"We submitted a memorandum and cautioned that this will aggravate the water crisis in the city," said Jagtap.
The memorandum said the corporators had no objection to release of 0.5 TMC of water to Indapur and Daund, which is their reserved quota. But giving 1 TMC water will plunge Pune city in a water crisis, and "responsibility will be completely of district administration and the Guardian Minister".
Jagtap also said he had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadanavis, asking him to intervene.
Pune city is currently getting the water from Khadakwasla every alternate day.
