Thane launches toll free number to tackle water crisis

Thane, April 6: In view of severe water shortage in Mumbai's adjoining Thane, the district administration here has set up a round-the-clock control room and launched a toll free number to receive complaints against misuse or commercialisation of water.

The toll free number 1077 has been launched in order to keep a check on commercialisation of the water being supplied, an official release by district administration said. There have been complaints regarding misuse of the tanker water, it stated.

To plan an effective use of the available water to meet the situation till June when monsoon is expected to commence in the state, the administration, under District Collector Dr Ashwini Joshi, will closely monitor the supply and use, besides the availability and distribution of water, it further said.

A local corporator said they are contemplating usage of natural springs water in the district for drinking and other purposes.

A meeting of Maharashtra BJP unit was recently held in Nashik where a host of issues, including the drought situation in the state, were discussed. Maharashtra is reeling under severe water shortage this summer owing to deficient monsoon last year.

Notably, amid an unprecedented scarcity of water, the administrations in parched Latur and Parbhani districts have clamped section 144 of CrPC to bar assembly of more than five people around the wells and water filling points to prevent possible violence.

PTI