POWER COS GOT 64% OF STATE’S IRRIGATION WATER

MUMBAI: Nearly 64% of the water from the state’s dams that was diverted from irrigation to industry has been used up by power companies in the past eight years, a yet to be published report by Prayas, a Pune-based NGO has stated.

The decision to divert the water, in view of growing urbanisation, was taken by a High Powered Committee (HPC) that the state set up in 2003, which was chaired by the then water resources minister Ajit Pawar.

Prayas had sought information from the state government’s water resources department under the RTI Act.

Meanwhile, amidst continuing protests demanding his resignation over his recent crass comment, Pawar said any decision pertaining to his resignation would be taken after taking NCP legislators into confidence.

FULL REPORT, P6