MiD DAY's water mafia expose: Nitesh Rane gets into the act

Members of the Swabhiman Sanghatana destroy the illegal pipelines in Kharegaon to put an end to rampant water pilfering; threaten to protest if shady business continues

Members of the Swabhiman Sanghatana destroy the illegal pipelines in Kharegaon to put an end to rampant water pilfering; threaten to protest if shady business continues

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) is surely going to be on its guard to prevent any illegal activity, after Nitesh Rane, president of the Swabhiman Sanghatana, along with 100 supporters, destroyed the pipeline, artificial well and pump that Pratik Water suppliers had constructed to pilfer water.

Following MiD DAY's expose, ('How 10 lakh litres of water are stolen every day', August 22) Nitesh Rane and his entourage of 100 supporters, marched to the Kharegaon spot, and destroyed the illegal pipelines that water suppliers had built.

After MiD DAY's report on the water mafia that was pilfering water from a pipeline in Thane, Nitesh Rane and members of Swabhimaan Sanghatana stormed the illegal hub and disconnected the pipes that were used to fill the water tankers

MiD DAY had reported on an unchecked water mafia, which had been pilfering nearly 10 lakh litres of water every day, from one location itself, the sum total adding up to a whopping 3 crore litres a month.

The water mafia had drilled a hole into a Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) pipeline in Kharegaon to fill an artificial well, which was then used to fill water tankers for supply to Thane and Mumbai.

There is scarcity of water in Mumbai. We have water cuts every day and here the water mafia is stealing from the TMC pipeline and selling it. This cannot be tolerated."

Members of the Swabhiman Sanghatana have also warned the corporation that they will carry out protests if such incidents occur again.

"We will conduct a meeting with the municipal corporations and raise the issue. Not just the government, the villagers of Kharegaon should also be vigilant and report water theft in the locality," Rane added.

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