Pune: With the city bracing for water cuts, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena staged an unusual protest on Thursday, swimming in the Mutha Right Canal to make a point about water flowing through it while residents are told to ration.
Party workers entered the canal near Janata Sanskrutik Hall at Janata Vasahat in the Parvati area. They demanded an account of water released from the dams and cancellation of the proposed cut schedule.
MNS Pune city leader Sainath Babar said the party had been protesting against the cuts for a month and alleged that nearly 18 TMC of water had flowed away after the monsoon because of inadequate planning. A one-day cut is already in force in the city, he said, and the administration is preparing a three-day cut after Diwali.
"For the last one month, this water has been continuously flowing through the canal, which is almost full to the brim. Our question is simple - where is this water actually going?" Babar said. "The government says that dam water should be used only for drinking purposes, but nobody has provided a clear account of how this water is being utilised."
He criticised elected representatives for staying silent despite the ruling party holding MPs, MLAs and corporators in Pune, and demanded transparency on how much water is being supplied for agriculture and drinking purposes to villages downstream.
Senior MNS leader Rajendra (Babu) Wagaskar questioned the administration's distribution planning and demanded that officials disclose how water released through the canal over the past 30 days had been used.
"Pune has plenty of water flowing through its canals, yet people in the city are being told that there is not enough water to drink," Wagaskar said. "If the government claims that this water is being supplied for agriculture and drinking purposes in villages, it should clarify which villages are receiving it and how much."
The party has demanded a transparent water audit, proper distribution planning and an immediate reconsideration of the cuts.
The municipal water supply department has not responded to the demands. Thursday's scheduled cut in the city was cancelled.