Post Ajit, cabinet sees no fireworks
The first cabinet meet after the exit of former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar was tense but peaceful barring a small exchange of words between the Nationalist Congress Party ministers and agriculture minister Radhekrishna Vikhe Patil.
According to a source from the cabinet, NCP ministers Rajesh Tope and Jayadatta Kshirsagar were concerned that the water in Jayakwadi dam, the biggest in Aurangabad district, is below the reserved level even as the monsoon comes to an end. They demanded that the situation be rectified by releasing water from Gangapur and Bhandardar dams in Nashik, as well as Nilwande dam from Ahmadnagar.
“The residents, farmers, the MIDC and almost 400 industries in Aurangabad are in dire need of water. NCP ministers were demanding 10 TMC water to be released from dams in Nashik and Ahmadnagar for Jayakwadi,” the source said.
However, Mr Vikhe-Patil as well as Congress’s revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat, who happens to be the guardian minister of Aurangabad, opposed the idea on the grounds that they will need to take the opinion of the canal committees in both the Nashik and Nagar districts before they can decide the release of water, the source added.
Mr Pawar’s unexpected resignation did not loom large over the short meeting. Due to President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit later in the day, too many issues were not put on the agenda.
Post new comment