State to probe if Juhu hotel wasted water during Holi celebrations

During a debate on a calling-attention motion on the water supply to Mira Bhayandar and other suburbs in Thane and Palghar district, Shiv Sena MLA from Thane Pratap Sarnaik said the hotel had violated the norms and neglected the government appeal to celebrate a dry Holi this year

The state government has announced a probe into the Holi celebration at a five-star hotel in Juhu last week, where around 30 tankers of water was allegedly wasted.

During a debate on a calling-attention motion on the water supply to Mira Bhayandar and other suburbs in Thane and Palghar district, Shiv Sena MLA from Thane Pratap Sarnaik said the hotel had violated the norms and neglected the government appeal to celebrate a dry Holi this year.

“I have the video clippings of the Holi celebration at the hotel to show the massive wastage of water to celebrate Holi. Many filmstars had participated in the celebration. The government needs to initiate action against the hotel for wastage of water at a time when several districts of the state are facing acute drought,” he said.

In response to the allegation, Ranjit Patil, minister of state for urban development, said the government will order the police to initiate a probe. He said the allegations were serious and if the hotel management was found guilty of violation of government diktat, action would be taken against it.

Legisators had raised the issue of shortage of the water in Mira-Bhayandar and Ulhasnagar in the Assembly on Wednesday. Sarnaik and BJP MLA Narendra Mehta said while other cities like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane are supplied with sufficient water, the two cities were facing acute shortage of water. They also questioned the delay in completing the Shahi and Kalu dam projects.