Pune: City politics is heating up over the water cut issue. Not only the opposition parties but factions within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have started criticising the decision to curtail water supply to the city.
The ruling BJP had to face embarrassment recently when party MP Anil Shirole threatened to go on a hunger strike over the irregular water supply to some parts in the city. Later, he relented. However, he served an ultimatum saying if the issue was not fixed in four days, he would agitate.
It seems the water issue is merely a pretext for Shirole to isolate District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat in the backdrop of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Bapat is the Chairman of the Canal Committee, which decided to curtail water supply to the city.
Immediately after the water cut schedule was announced, opposition parties and Shirole registered their protest. The Congress alleged that the BJP created an artificial water scarcity to implement the 24x7 water supply project.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary Sanjay Balgude and former corporators Shiva Mantri and Narendra Vyavahare criticised the BJP. They said, “There is 26 TMC water in Khadakwasla system dams, which is enough to supply regular water to the city. Yet, the BJP imposed the water cut in the name of a proper planning of its supply.”
They further added, “On one hand, the PMC has increased water tax while on the other hand, it is supplying inadequate water to citizens.”
Shiv Sena City Associate Public Relations Chief Shyam Deshpande claimed that the Irrigation Department has been pressuring the civic body to cut water since the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) rule. The BJP buckled under the pressure of the department. Water is being cut to provide more water to the Pune Mahanagar Regional Development Authority (PMRDA) areas.
Unrest within BJP There is unrest within the city unit of BJP over the issue. Not only corporators but also MLAs are not happy with the decision. MP Anil Shirole went one step ahead and announced a hunger strike, if the issue is not sorted out till October 30. Though MLAs are not speaking openly over the decision, they are admitting in private about decision’s impact on the upcoming assembly polls. Corporators have to face flak from local residents over the water cut.
A corporator from the east part of the city said, “People are complaining about water problems. They don’t receive adequate water. Now, the civic administration wants to reduce water supply during Diwali festival! It is very difficult to face people. We are in power. Yet, we are not able to solve problems in our wards. People are angry over the water cut decision. We are helpless.”
Shirole has already served an ultimatum to the PMC to solve the water issue in Shivajinagar area. Late on Friday evening, people agitated in front of Shirole’s office. Later, he himself threatened to agitate on Saturday. However, Mayor Mukta Tilak spoke to Shirole and pacified him saying she would conduct a joint meeting with civic officials on Sunday to solve the issue. Later, Shirole suspended his stir.
Tilak said, “Everyone in the party knows the new water schedule in the city. However, if anyone has any problem, they should speak out. We have scheduled a joint meeting on Sunday with the Water Supply Department officials and MP Shirole to discuss the issue and find a solution for the Shivajinagar area.”
