Security heightened at Pune minister's office after protest over water sharing

A day after MNS activists staged violent protest opposing the decision of sharing water from city reservoirs, police on Wednesday heightened security outside the office of District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat in Kasba area in Pune

Pune: A day after MNS activists staged violent protest opposing the decision of sharing water from city reservoirs, police on Wednesday heightened security outside the office of District Guardian Minister Girish Bapat in Kasba area in Pune.

"To avoid any untoward incident, we have deployed two officers and 10 police personnel outside the office of the guardian minister," senior inspector of Vishrambaug police station Hemant Bhat said.

The issue of release of water from Khadakwasla reservoir to Indapur and Daund tehsils in the district hotted up yesterday after MNS workers staged a violent protest while corporators from various parties opposed the decision saying it would aggravate the water shortage in Pune city.

A case of rioting and damaging property was registered against MNS activists who vandalised Sinchan Bhavan, state Irrigation department's office here last afternoon. The officer said they have learnt that Shiv Sena workers are going to stage protest in Kasba area and hence, police bandobast was deployed as a precautionary measure.

The district administration and guardian minister, in a joint meeting, took the decision to release 1 TMC water to Indapur and Daund tehsils, which are facing water shortage.

The decision was, however, opposed by corporators of various parties in Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and a delegation, led by mayor Prashant Jagtap, even submitted a memorandum to the district collector yesterday to 'rethink' over the decision.

Barring BJP, all other parties demanded that the decision be revoked and also sought resignation of Bapat.

According to Irrigation department officials, the 1 TMC water from Khadakwasla reservoir is expected to be released to the two tehsils later in the day on Wednesday.

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