Water cut imminent in Mumbai, Pune, says govt, oppn walkout

Mumbai, Jul 17 (UNI) Amid walkout by the opposition members, Maharashtra Water Resoures Minister Ajit Pawar today told the Assembly that the state was facing a severe water scarcity with the dams across the state receiving only 20 per cent of their full capacity.

Mr Pawar cautioned that the state might have to resort to heavy water cuts in cities like Mumbai and Pune. Unable to wrest a categorical assurance from the government on mitigating the woes of people suffering from drought conditions, the entire opposition walked out of the house.

Replying to a discussion on the drought siutation in the state Mr Pawar said all the major dams in the state have got only 20 per cent water storage of their full capacity. Ujani dam, which had 70 per cent water of its capacity during this time last year, has got minus 20 per cent, which means even the dead storage level had also been used, he added.

However, the minister assured the house that there were adequate food stocks to meet any eventuality.

Four ministers, including Mr Pawar, Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Harshwardhan Patil and Agriculture Minister Balasaheb Thorat gave information about the drought situation in both the Assembly and the Legislative Council.

UNI JM/XR VK OBB RR UCS2035