Senior NCP MLA Chhagan Bhujbal, who is currently in judicial custody in Arthur Road for alleged involvement in money laundering, has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to resolve the water issue in Nashik. The MLA has requested to complete the diversion work of the Manjarpada water project so that the water does not go to Gujarat.
Bhujbal has written a letter to Mr Fadanvis requesting him to start the diversion work. The handwritten letter to the CM has also been sent to the Speaker of the Assembly and other senior NCP leaders.
“Despite receiving sufficient rainfall, the water flows off to neighbouring Gujarat. So, it was decided by the then government in 2009 to restrict the water from flowing into sea and to Gujarat by building diversions dams. The first such project was started at Nashik known as Majarpada. Now, only 900 metre of the tunnel is yet to be completed. However, during your government, the work was halted as projects with escalated costs were not approved,” said Bhujbal. He has also added that he had raised the issue in the House earlier and had expected that the works would be completed.
“Today, the farmers in Nashik district are in trouble and facing severe crisis of drinking water. If we can hold the water which is flowing towards Gujarat then it can be provided to north Maharashtra and drought-stricken Marathwada,” Bhujbal said in the letter.
The NCP leader has requested Mr Fadnavis to look into the matter personally and instruct the officials for speedy completion of the work.
