“Citizens are a harassed and tortured lot by the poor working style of OCW. The Corporators repeatedly file complaints but the Administration and office-bearers have turned deaf and dumb and till today, not a single concrete measure has been initiated by them in order to ease the problem of erratic and irregular water supply in many areas of the city,” said the Leader of Opposition in NMC Vikas Thakre.
Nagpur News.
The day after outraged Bhawani Nagar citizens, including large number of womenfolk, thrashed and forced OCW officials to run for their lives in Lakadganj Zone, the Leader of Opposition in NMC Vikas Thakre did not miss the opportunity to strike at the red-hot iron (hot atmosphere).
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Vikas Thakre tore apart the working style of the Orange City Water (OCW) and fired a salvo at the NMC Administration and the office-bearers. “Citizens are a harassed and tortured lot by the poor working style of OCW. The Corporators repeatedly file complaints but the Administration and office-bearers have turned deaf and dumb and till today, not a single concrete measure has been initiated by them in order to ease the problem of erratic and irregular water supply in many areas of the city. Moreover, the areas where water supply used to continue for more than two hours, now hardly 15-20 minutes of water supply is being witnessed. OCW lacks the necessary machineries and experienced staff. There is turmoil even before the start of scorching summer. And the leakage problem has been dotting the city in a big magnitude,” Thakre said.
“There is no coordination between the OCW and Water Works Department of NMC. Previously, water tankers were used to cover the network and non-network areas regularly but the water tankers were nowhere to be seen for the past 4-5 days. The Water Tax payers have not been receiving water but the authorized water tankers of OCW and NMC are supplying water to those who are paying money to them. Citizens need water no matter from where. The NMC Commissioner and the Mayor should take steps on an emergency basis before the dawn of blistering summer,” the Leader of Opposition demanded.
Thakre further said that the Congress Corporators will meet the NMC Commissioner and submit a memorandum demanding regular water supply to every area of the city. “If the problem is not resolved within 8-10 days, the top officials and office-bearers would not be allowed to enter their chambers,” Vikas Thakre warned.
“The Mayor Anil Sole should resort to ‘Dharna Protest’ in front of NMC Commissioner like the Delhi Chief Minister did if his ruling is not implemented by the NMC Administration. Even then the Administration fails to follow the orders, the Mayor Sole should resign and the Ruling Party Leader Praveen Datke be made Mayor as he is capable and efficient,” Thakre asserted.
Thakre termed the abusive words used by the lower ranked OCW employees against a senior official like Urade an insult of the NMC. The Commissioner should act tough against the OCW employees, said Thakre.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Water Works Committee Sudhakar Kohale met the Commissioner and informed him that the tender period of the present Directors of water tankers is over and tenders should be floated afresh.
CHAPPAL GARLAND TO OCW OFFICIALS:
Ward No. 44 Corporator Malutai Tanaji Wanve and other citizens gheraoed the OCW officials, and women present on the occasion offered a garland of chappals to the officials to mark the protest. Hasanbagh, Darshan Colony, Vyankatesh Nagar and Nandanvan Housing Complex have not been getting water through pipeline and also by tankers for the past three days. The citizens broke earthen pots (Matkas) and offered a garland of chappals to OCW officials to express their anger over no supply of water to their areas.
