Water sharing row: Sena opposes Guardian Minister's decision

Water woes in Pune further strained relations between BJP and its ally Shiv Sena as the latter today launched a signature campaign to oppose District Guardian Minister Girish Bapats decision to release water from Khadakwasla dam to adjacent Daund and Indapur talukasJoining the antiBapat campaign already launched by other parties including NCP MNS and Congress Shiv Sena city president Vinayak Nimhan said the memorandum accompanying citizens signatures being collected by activists at various public places would be sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to oppose the arbitrary decision of the ministerThe Sena activists also staged a demonstration before the ministers office in Kasba Peth area last night They organised a prayer in front of the famous Ganesh temple there seeking wisdom for Bapat who however has assured Pune residents that there would not be any further cutin their current water supply owing to the sharing with the two neighbouring townsNotwithstanding political opposition and the ire expressed at different citizens forums on the issue the state Irrigation Department yesterday released 600 cusecs of water from Khadakwasla reservoir to Indapur and Daund tehsils which are reeling under severe water shortage in wake of the prevailing drought situation in MaharashtraHowever Pune Collector Saurabh Rao has assured people that there would not be an additional cut in water provision to the city which currently is getting municipal water supply every alternate day to tide over the shrinking storage in Khadakwasla damMayor of Pune Prashant Jagtap had earlier condemned Bapats decision to divert the water saying the civic body was not taken into confidence or consulted on the issueBapat in a joint meeting three days ago took the decision to release 1 TMC water to Indapur and Daund tehsils It was opposed by corporators of various parties in Pune Municipal Corporation and a delegation led by Mayor Jagtap even submitted a memorandum to the district Collector on Tuesday to rethink the decisionBarring BJP all other parties demanded that the decision be revoked and also sought Bapats resignation On Tuesday MNS activists had vandalised the state Irrigation Departments office here protesting the decision of sharing water from city reservoirs prompting police totighten bandobast outside Bapats office in the cityMeanwhile Punes Guardian Minister Girish Bapat today urged all parties not to politicise the issue of water sharing with neighbouring talukas and assured that the released water is only for drinking purpose and will not be used for farming or sugarcane cultivation in the regionThe water crisis has become a question of life and death for people living in Indapur and Daund tehsils and I urge all political parties from the civic body not to politicise the issue as everybody in the district has right over the water Bapat said addressing a press conference hereI assure that the released one TMC water will only be used for drinking purpose for approximately four lakh population and for cattle and we will make sure that the water is not used for sugarcane and farming purpose he saidReiterating the stand of the district administration Bapat said the city reservoir has adequate water stock until midJuly and Pune city will not face any further water cuts in the coming daysEven if the situation aggravates we have one TMC water in the dead stock in the reservoir which can be lifted However looking at the present condition and forecast of monsoon arrival we will not have to touch that dead stock waterWater is being released from one of the two dams from Lavasa and that will be reserved in the reservoir he said The minister said the decision to release water was taken after thorough deliberations and considering the present stock in reservoirsBapat said adequate measures have been taken by the district administration and Irrigation Department to curb water thefts from the canal leading to Indapur and DaundThe Irrigation Department had yesterday released 600 cusecs water from Khadakwasla reservoir to Indapur and Daund The entire one TMC water will be released in a phased manner in the next 1213 days