PUNE, Dec 4: It's Ahire village not the National Defence Academy (NDA) that has stalled a Rs 6.5 crore World Bank-aided water supply scheme for Warje'', says an academy communique stating the facts about Warje water supply scheme.``Instead of blaming NDA for stalling this project, the civil administration should first meet its part of bargain or approach the Ministry of Defence with alternate proposals,'' said the communique reacting to The Indian Express report (NDA stalls water scheme for 50,000 Warje residents, December 1).The communique elaborates on the events leading to the present situation. The Defence Ministry's permission to Maharashtra Government for laying the pipeline and related constructions at the Warje project in July 1997 was conditional. The quid-pro-quo was resettlement of Ahire village occupying 12.34 acres at the heart of the NDA estate, which the officers aver, is a major headache for the academy.Besides resettlement of Ahire village, the other condition about transfer of 600 metres of defence land to the government was critical. The land would be transferred `permanently,' it said, yet the stipulation was that in case of any future requirement, the land could be taken back unilaterally by the NDA.The most vantage part of the agreement as per the communique, was the State government relocating the Ahire village and providing it with separate entry and exit points. Expediting relocation of the village, NDA authorities parted with Rs 47.49 lakh and 20 acres of defence land in February 1991. This was in accordance with an agreement between NDA authorities and the civil administration in July 1989, the communique adds.Despite providing alternate land and funds, the civil administration failed to relocate the village, NDA officials charged. The New Ahire village came up at the new site with permanent constructions, yet the old village continued to be inhabited, they pointed out. This has been causing problems in conducting NDA training besides creating security hitches. It is the administration's failure to fulfill its promises that has stalled the Warjer project, maintained NDA men.``The civil administration is fully aware of these conditions laid down by the Central government. Until these conditions are fulfilled, the hands of NDA authorities are tied by the directives of the Central government,'' the communique summed up. It was making a point that NDA was not thwarting water supply to Warje, but was constrained by the directives of the Central government.
