A meeting on releasing water into the Neera river for drinking water and fodder has been scheduled at the Pune district collector’s office on November 16 after a road blockade by residents and farmers from 30 villages was suspended following an assurance from Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil.
The protest was held at Sarati on the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi Highway by farmers, women and residents from villages in Indapur taluka of Pune district and Malshiras taluka. The blockade continued for nearly two and a half hours, leading to long queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway.
The protesters were demanding that water be released into the Neera river to meet drinking-water needs for people and animals and to provide water for fodder. The agitation was suspended after former Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Harshvardhan Patil spoke to Vikhe Patil over the phone and sought an urgent decision from the water resources department.
According to the report, the minister told the protesters that their concerns would be considered and that a meeting would be held at 11 a.m. on November 16 at the Pune district collector’s office. Members of the Neera River Conservation Action Committee, elected representatives and other important office-bearers are expected to attend. Vikhe Patil asked the protesters to suspend the agitation while the meeting was convened, after which they agreed to withdraw the blockade.
The protest drew the participation of former deputy chief minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, former minister Harshvardhan Patil, Member of Parliament Dhairysheel Mohite-Patil, MLA Uttamrao Jankar and former MLA Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, among other local political representatives and office-bearers. Farmers, women and residents also attended in large numbers.
Officials associated with the canal system were also present during the protest. More, associated with the Neera Left Bank Canal, and Nalawade, associated with the Neera Right Bank Canal, conveyed the farmers’ demands to the government, according to the report.
The road blockade required police deployment, with Baramati sub-divisional police officer Kadam and Indapur police inspector Vilas Nale overseeing security arrangements. The scheduled meeting at the Pune district collector’s office on November 16 is the next official step in deciding whether and how water will be released into the Neera river.
