BJP government in Maharashtra cuts excess water supply to Sharad Pawar’s Baramati
Recently elected BJP MP from Solapur's Madha had alleged that Pawars had used their political influence to change the distribution of water from Nira-Devghar dam, which was supposed to be supplied to the area in Madha.
In a jolt to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the BJP government in Maharashtra has diverted water from Nira-Devghar dam in Pune from Baramati to the drought-prone area of Solapur.
Recently elected BJP MP from Solapur's Madha, Ranjeet Naik Nimbalkar had raised the issue of the water supply to his constituency. He had alleged that Pawars had used their political influence to change the distribution of water from Nira-Devghar dam, which was supposed to be supplied to the area in Madha. He said that the Pawar's diverted the water to their own constituency Baramati in 2009.
The constituency is now represented by Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule since 2009. He had also alleged that water has been diverted for the sugarcane farms in Baramati from the dam's left bank canal.
As per the water distribution agreement 1984, distribution of water was as follows: 57 per cent of the water from the above-mentioned dam used to be distributed by the right bank canal to drought-prone areas of Solapur district. 43 per cent of water by the left bank canal used to be distributed to Baramati and Indapur.
But in 2009, when Baramati MLA and then water resource minister Ajit Pawar changed the agreement, 60 per cent water was distributed to Baramati and Indapur whereas 40 per cent water was being distributed in Solapur.
The new agreement was to expire in 2017. Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar had met the Maharashtra chief minister a while ago to request him to continue with the agreement, but the Maharashtra government decided to go back to the original agreement.
"The decision is not political, the agreement was changed in 2009 and expired in 2017, now the area in Solapur district needs that water, so we have taken this decision," Maharashtra water resource minister Girish Mahajan said while speaking to India Today TV.
Baramati MP Supriya Sule and NCP is yet to speak on the government's decision.
ALSO READ | Learn persistence, patience and consistency from RSS: Sharad Pawar tells NCP cadre