வெள்ளி, 27 ஏப்ரல், 2018

தண்ணீருக்கான யுத்தம் ?. மஹாராஷ்டிரா, பூனாவில் ....

Alwar Narayanan : எது நடக்கக்கூடாதோ அது வந்தே விட்டது. தண்ணீருக்கான
யுத்தம்.
முண்வா என்ற ஒரு பகுதி மஹாராஷ்டிரா, பூனாவில் உள்ளது. அங்கு கடந்த ஒரு வாரமாக அபார்ட்மெண்ட்கள் கட்டிக்கொண்டு வாழும் மேட்டுக்குடி வர்க்கத்துக்கும், குடிசைவாழ் மக்களுக்கும் தண்ணீருக்கான சண்டை. மேட்டுக்குடி காலனி வாசிகள் குழாய் தண்ணீரை பொதுப்பணித்துறை மூலம் தனக்குமட்டுமே கிடைக்குமாறு திருப்பியதால் ஒரு வாரத்துக்கும் மேல் குடியிருப்பு (வஸ்தி என்றால் கிராமம்/சேரி/குடியிருப்பு) மக்களுக்கு தண்ணீர் கிடையாது.
கோபமுற்ற மக்கள் குழாயின் காலனிக்கு செல்லும் வால்வை கான்கிரிட் கொண்டு மூடிவிட்டார்கள். பொதுப்பணித்துறை தலையிட்டு பிரச்னையை சமாளித்து கொண்டிருக்கிறது. முன்னவர்களிடம் பணம், அதிகாரம் இருக்கிறது. பின்னவர்களிடம் பலம் மற்றும் சேவை இருக்கிறது.
இது ஒரு துவக்கம்தான்.
ஒரு சின்ன காலனிக்குள் நடக்கும் யுத்தம்.
ஆனால் குறிப்பிட்ட இரு அரசியல் கட்சியை சேர்ந்த ஓநாய்கள் கர்நாடக தேர்தலில் ஜெயிக்கவேண்டுமென்று ஒரு மாநிலத்தின் ஒட்டுமொத்த குடிமக்களின் வயிற்றில் அடித்துக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். இனி என்ன நடக்குமென்று நினைத்துக்கூட பார்க்கமுடியாது.
செய்யும் பாவத்தை சீக்கிரம் அனுபவிக்கத்தான் வேண்டும்.
எச்சரிக்கை


WATER WAR BREAKS OUT IN MUNDHWA

Posh housing society and a vasti come to near blows over water. While the former blames slum dwellers for their taps running dry, the latter blames the privileged for tweaking the supply valve

The onset of a harsh summer has translated into a duel over water between residents of Mundhwa’s Jadhav Vasti, near Hadapsar railway station, and an upscale neighbouring society, Venkatesh Flora. A near-war like situation prevailed on Thursday morning between the two, with the former accusing the privileged lot of siphoning off precious water by tweaking a key valve in the supply line. Local politicians and officials from the civic body intervened just in time before the situation could snowball into a law and order crisis.

The angry Jadhav Vasti residents, hassled with a lack of water supply for five days, took it upon themselves to settle scores by burying the water diversion valve into the ground under cement concrete slabs. They claimed the valve was ‘the real reason behind their problem’, as it was supplying water only to societies, not the vasti. On the other end, society residents allege that the Jadhav Vasti counterparts snatch their share of water every day, which has led to their not getting even a drop of water since Thursday morning.

However, officials of Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) water supply department, who went there to pacify the residents, said they were also clueless about the problem as the water supply is adequate in the area, and hinted at illegal connections.

Talking to Pune Mirror, Mohini Sharma, a resident of Venkatesh Flora, said, “People from the vasti are not allowing housing societies such as the Venkatesh Flora Phase I and II, and Flora Villas to take our share of water. The three phases of our society have over 500 flats. We have hardly received any supply since the last 20 days. The entire water supply goes to the people of the vasti. The local coporators and PMC officials are aligned with them. All the complaints with PMC and its online portal have been futile.” Another resident, Col V K Jesani, said, “The act of the vasti people to seal the wall for their own benefit is unacceptable. We are genuine taxpayers. There is a need to conduct an inquiry on where the water actually goes, as none of us is getting it.” Another resident, Jagruti Mallya, said, “PMC water supply officials have allowed so many illegal connections, which is the cause of low supply of water in the locality. The water must be going to nurseries and construction sites. The diversion valve is being used for people in the vasti only. By burying it, they have resolved their own problem, but now we are not getting a single drop of water.”


PIC: MANOJ BIDKAR

Sandeep Jadhav, a resident of Jadhav Vasti, said, “Our area, the Lonkar Vasti and other parts are deprived of water. Housing societies are using water from our share by using their pressure tactics. We hardly get water supply for an hour a day. But people in the society enjoy supply for the entire day. They divert the supply by using this valve. With no option left, we decided to seal it and eradicate the root of the problem.” Other residents of the vasti, such as Mahendra Mali and Sameer, echoed this view as they said, “Those living in the housing society manage the men who operate the valves and extort our share of water. Our homemakers are forced to go to the station to get water. We cannot afford tankers like them. We have done this for the sake of water only.”

When asked, local corporator Sunil (Bandu) Gaikwad said, “We have conducted a meeting with officials of PMC’s water supply department, who have assured us that the issue will be resolved. There is no water shortage here. We have learnt that the men who operate the valves have been influenced by water tanker owners to create an artificial shortage of water in the area, so that the privileged are compelled to buy water. We will ensure additional water supply to this locality.”

Subhash Pawara, executive engineer of PMC’s water supply department, said, “We came to know about the scuffle and asked our staff to repair the valve. There is no water shortage here, but we are checking the exact reason of the crisis. We have immediately transferred the valve-man from the locality.” Pawara promised that the department would increase water supply in the area to meet demands of all residents. “There is no nexus with the tanker mafia. We will check if there are any underground illegal connections,” said Pawara.

█ We came to know about the scuffle and asked our staff to repair the valve. There is no water shortage here, but we are checking the exact reason of the crisis

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