Water sharing row: Shiv Sena opposes Guardian Minister Girish Bapat's decision

PUNE: 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 Bapat's decision to release water from Khadakwasla dam to adjacent Daund and Indapur talukas.

Joining the anti-Bapat campaign already launched by other parties, including NCP, MNS and Congress, Shiv Sena city president Vinayak Nimhan said the memorandum accompanying citizen's signatures, being collected by activists at various public places, would be sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to oppose the "arbitrary" decision of the minister.

The Sena activists also staged a demonstration before the minister's 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 cut in their current water supply owing to the sharing with the two neighbouring towns.

Notwithstanding 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 Maharashtra.

However, 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 dam.

Mayor of Pune Prashant Jagtap had earlier condemned Bapat's decision to divert the water, saying the civic body was not taken into confidence or consulted on the issue.

Bapat, 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 decision.

Barring BJP, all other parties demanded that the decision be revoked and also sought Bapat's resignation.

On Tuesday, MNS activists had vandalised the state Irrigation Department's office here protesting the decision of sharing water from city reservoirs, prompting police to tighten bandobast outside Bapat's office in the city.