Minister blames crabs for dam breach

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader and state water conservation minister Tanaji Sawant made a shocking claim over the cause of Tiware dam breach on Thursday, saying the leakage was caused due to a large number of crabs gathered around the dam. “The wall was weakened by a large number crabs and after it was pointed out to the government officials, some remedial measures were taken up,” he said.

“The SIT appointed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will come up with its findings soon and we will come to know what exactly went wrong,” he said. While the minister became subject of ridicule, the opposition was quick to increase pressure on the government.

Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has demanded a judicial probe into the Tiware breach. The NCP also said that in order to save Shark (the corrupt man of his party), Mr Sawant has blamed the “large number of crabs”.  The Tiware dam in Chiplun taluka of Ratnagiri district breached late on Tuesday night. Bodies of 19 persons have been recovered till Friday and search operation to find missing four persons is still on.

The NCP leader and spokesperson Nawab Malik said that a judicial probe should be conducted in Tiware dam’s breach and guilty MLA should be punished.

Mr. Malik said that the Shiv Sena minister Tanaji Sawant is trying to save his party legislator, therefore, he is blaming the crabs.

Hitting out at water conservation minister, former deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar asked why did the Shiv Sena leader accept charge of a minister if he were to blame animals for the tragedy. “When will the BJP-Shiv Sena ministers accept their failures?” he asked on Twitter.

Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant said the Sena minister should be “ashamed of himself”.

Minister of state for water resources Vijay Shivtare, who is also from Shiv Sena, was accompanying his Cabinet colleague Mr Sawant when the latter made the remarks.

Noting that, Sachin Sawant tweeted, “Poor people died due to Tiware dam breach, but (the minister) is blaming nature. Another minister (Shivtare) is nodding.”

Meanwhile, Jitendra Awhad, NCP leader on Friday handed over a few crabs to the police after Mr Sawant’s claim. The workers walked into the Naupada police station with crabs in hand, and urged the cops to ‘arrest’ them.