High-level meeting to solve Thane’s water woes

Water resources minister Girish Mahajan agreed to such a meeting after MLAs from Thane and Mumbai slammed the state government’s “passivity on the issue”

Facing flak from legislators in Thane over its inaction in solving the water crisis, the state government has now decided to convene a high-level meeting to find ways to solve the problem.

Residents of Pisavli village in Thane protested against water cuts by blocking a road at Shil last week. (File)

Water resources minister Girish Mahajan agreed to such a meeting after MLAs from Thane and Mumbai slammed the state government’s “passivity on the issue”.

Mumbra-Kalwa MLA Jitendra Awhad raised a question over the alternatives being considered by the state government to strengthen the water supply to Thane district, after both Kalu and Shai dams have been struck down by the Bombay high court for gross environmental and procedural lapses.

Responding to Awhad’s question, Mahajan said the government was helpless, as the court had ordered the work on the two dams be stopped.

“We must try and resolve the issues they pointed out and talk to the villagers of the 17 villages opposing the dam,” he said.

However, Mahajan was criticised for his remarks, with members slamming the government’s helplessness.

“How can the government make remarks with such helplessness? Work on the two dams has been shut since 2012. The state government must plan for the growing population of Thane. Simply expressing helplessness won’t help [solve the problem],” said Pratap Sarnaik, Shiv Sena MLA from Thane.

When city MLA Ashish Shelar asked whether chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Mahajan would help find solutions, Mahajan said that such a meeting will be held within a month.