Corporators fume as Pune civic body says no withdrawal of water cuts

The available water level in dams can last only for seven months.

EYEING the forthcoming civic polls, corporators tried to outwit each other and staged a massive protest at the general body meeting of the Pune Municipal Corporation on Monday, demanding that water cuts be immediately withdrawn keeping in mind the rising water levels in dams.

However, the civic administration was quick to turn down the demand, stating that there will be no roll back on water cut decision. “The available water level in dams can last only for seven months. Thus, the civic administration believes that it is not possible to withdraw the water cuts in the present scenario,” said municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar.

The parties engaged in a war of words at the meet stating that the civic body was unable to handle the water scarcity problem in the city. Earlier, the ruling NCP corporators, along with those of MNS, marched towards the well of the hall, disrupting the session, and raising slogans against BJP leader and Guardian Minister Girish Bapat for not allowing withdrawal of water cuts in the city. On the other hand, the BJP corporators protested against the ruling NCP over poor quality road infrastructure this rainy season too.

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To register their protest, the MNS carried vessels to the meeting displaying their anger towards water cuts. Later, the Shiv Sena and Congress too joined in demanding withdrawal of water cuts.

NCP corporator Chetan Tupe said the administration should be clear on the reasons why it cannot withdraw the water cuts despite good rainfall. “We feel this would be injustice to the citizens who cooperated during water scarcity. If the water is released from river and canal then it should be given to Pune citizens,” he said.

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