Troubles seems to be intensifying for rural development minister Pankaja Munde following her statement on not cutting water supply to breweries.
Troubles seems to be intensifying for rural development minister Pankaja Munde following her statement on not cutting water supply to breweries. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has now alleged that Ms Munde is opposed to water cuts for breweries as her husband Charudatt Palve is one of the directors in a Radico Distilleries in Aurangabad.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik on Tuesday has said that the minister is saying no to water cuts to breweries, as her husband owns one. “Charudutt Palve is one of the directors of the Radico Distilleries. Even Pankaja was among the directors but she resigned later. Just because you own a distillery, you want water supply to it despite severe drought in Marathwada. Owing to her selfish motives she is opposed to water cuts for breweries,” Mr Malik said.
The NCP spokesperson also alleged that the information about her husband was not disclosed in her election affidavit. Mr Malik said that Mr Palve is using different names at different places. Some times he uses Charudutt and sometimes Amit, Mr Malik alleged.
“The people have no water to drink. So, water supply for breweries should be reduced. The people will never forgive such leaders who prefer supplying water to beer factories rather than supplying it to the people,” Mr Malik added.
Ms Munde was slammed from all quarters for her statement that water should not be cut off to any factories, including breweries. She had said that water is reserved for factories, breweries and it is wrong to discontinue the supply to it. Later, the chief minister had to clarify that drinking water was a priority for the state and asked all the collectors to submit a report on use of water by factories. Even as the controversy settled down, Ms Munde’s selfie in drought-affected region attracted another round of flak bringing in more embarrassment for her and the government. The minister defended her photo in the backdrop of a water stream saying she was very happy to see it in between the arid land.
