Yavatmal citizens ransack, lock MJP office over non-supply of drinking water

YAVATMAL: Peeved with the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) over “non-supply” of drinking water, several citizens led by municipal councillor and city chief of Shiv Sena, Pintu Bangar, on Thursday ransacked the Pradhikaran’s office and later locked it.
Section engineer Nanasaheb Suriyawanshi rushed to the office. The citizens complained that they have not been supplied drinking water since last 8-10 days.When it is supplied, the water is muddy and contaminated, they said.
The people of Yavatmal are facing drinking water crisis for more than 30 years now. The central government had sanctioned Rs302 crore Amrut drinking water scheme for Yavatmal city. A plan was laid to bring water from the Bembla irrigation project, which is 26km from the city in Babhulgaon tehsil of Yavatmal. A Nashik-based private company laid the pipeline, which has busted at a number of places.
The then district guardian minister Madan Yerawar had promised that water from Bembla would reach the city by May 2018. The water from Bembla won't be available for at least next couple of years, say experts.
Meanwhile, RTI activist Digambar Pajgade has filed a criminal case in the high court alleging rampant corruption in Amrut scheme. He has pleaded for a thorough probe.
Pintu Bangar submitted a list of demands to the section engineer, including regular supply of drinking water. He has also demanded that the contractor of Bembla project should be blacklisted and the work should be given to another agency. He warned the MJP officials of intensifying the protest if the drinking water is not supplied regularly.