Latur/Mumbai : Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse on Friday waded into a drought row amid allegations that 10,000 litres of water was sprinkled on a makeshift helipad so that his chopper could land in a relatively dust-free ambience.
The irony of it all is that Khadse was visiting parched and bone-dry Latur where lakhs of litres of potable water was ferried recently by a specially requisitioned train. Such is the situation in the politically sensitive district that prohibitory orders have been issued to curb water riots.
But the BJP defended the administration stating water was used to settle dust which is a must for a chopper to land. “Water was used so that the dust doesn’t spread in the air which could have cause breathing problems to the people around, to the passengers or the pilot. Khadse ji is a senior minister and has certain health concerns. Please don’t make it a big issue,” Shaina NC, spokesperson of the BJP, said.
Close to Latur, 10,000 litres of water is sprinkled on the Revenue Minister’s makeshift helipad
Taking umbrage at the charge of gross insensitivity, Khadse retorted that the water used was actually the slurry from the filter of a water supply scheme that ensures 50 lakh litres of water for the city every day.
What raised the Congress hackles was the fact that Khadse took a chopper to a venue which was a 40-minute drive from Latur.
Incidentally, the minister was in Latur on Friday to review the drought situation after arrival of the water supplies by train.
He also had to inaugurate a newly repaired water supply scheme at Belkund, which is located 35 km from Latur. Looking only at his own convenience, Khadse chose to travel to Belkund in a helicopter instead of taking the road.
“It is utter insensitivity on the part of the minister to choose the helicopter,” MPCC spokesperson Sachin Sawant said. “Had he chosen to travel by road, he might have taken a little longer but the criminal wastage of thousands of litres of water would not have happened,” Sawant said and demanded Khadse’s apology.
The minister, however, refused to pay much heed to the charge. “It is only because of our proactive approach that the city is getting water today,” he said while speaking to the FPJ. He also tried to defend himself by saying that the water used at the helipad was actually the slurry in the filters that were repaired recently to ensure water supplies to Latur city.
“The people of Latur are happy. They will now get 50 lakh litres of water every day. 30 Lakh litres would reach them on Friday night. Moreover, the water which was allegedly wasted on the Helipad was in any case not reusable,” the minister clarified.
