Villagers to take 'Jal Samadhi' if water issue not solved: BJP

Thane, May 22:

MLA from Thane district Chintaman Wanga today warned the state government that tribals would resort to 'Jal Samadhi' if the issue of water shortage in the villages of the district was not resolved. The government was "playing with the lives of tribals" and depriving them of the basic necessity of potable drinking water, Wanga said in a release issued here.

Various dams which supply water to the city of Mumbai were based in Thane district, but the villagers do not get even a drop of water from the supply, he alleged.

The then Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde had assured the villagers that water from Middle Vaitarna dam project would be given first to villagers and then to Mumbai city. But at a time when the project is in the completion stage, the villagers have been left high and dry as the government is all set to release water from it straight to Mumbai, bypassing the villages, he said.

About 455 MLD of water will be given to Mumbai from the dam, he mentioned.

PTI