Civic chief absent, water GB meet put off

Nagpur: Corporators have been making a hue and cry of the impending water crisis. Yet, when it came to discussing it in the general body meeting of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) only 78 out of 155 turned up.
The meeting, which was called to discuss the storage water shortage in Pench reservoirs, was put off citing the absence of civic chief Abhijit Bangar. It was to be organized two months ago but was postponed for different reasons.

As per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (MMC) Act, the general body, headed by the mayor and comprising ruling party leader, opposition leader and corporators, is the highest authority in the NMC and not the civic chief.

As soon as the meeting started at 11.45am, Opposition leader Tanaji Wanwe sought a postponement due to Bangar’s absence. Ruling party leader Sandip Joshi later said the meeting to discuss the water crisis will now be held on December 7.

Both Joshi and Wanwe said the general body is superior in the NMC. “Bangar is on leave due to personal reasons,” said Joshi. “The ruling party does not have any control over the administration. Many decisions taken in the house have not been implemented. The civic chief is the implementation authority and his presence is vital,” said Wanwe.

Totladoh, one of two Pench reservoirs, has 128 million meter cube (MMC) (12.58%) as against total capacity of 1,017 MMC. Kamptee Khairi has 56 MMC (39.58%) as against capacity of 140 MMC.

The total available water is less than that required for the city till next monsoon. Also, the problem has escalated at Kanhan due to the blocking of water at the under-construction Kochchhi barrage.