Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai is facing a severe water crisis due to the diversion of its rightful share of 40 million litres per day (MLD) from the Barvi Dam, alleged Forest Minister Ganesh Naik on Thursday.
Speaking at a review meeting held at the CIDCO Exhibition Centre, Naik blamed "water theft" for the city’s parched condition and called for urgent corrective measures.
“The people of Navi Mumbai are being forced to go without water because the supply meant for them is being stolen and diverted elsewhere,” Naik said . “Some groups are playing a double game first stealing Navi Mumbai’s water and then blaming the city for its shortages.”
The meeting, which aimed to address pending civic issues across Navi Mumbai’s wards, was attended by senior officials and elected representatives, including former MP Dr. Sanjeev Naik, Municipal Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, former mayors Sagar Naik, Jaywant Sutar, and Sudhakar Sonawane, BJP district president Dr. Rajesh Patil, and other local leaders.
Several corporators and office bearers raised pressing concerns about incomplete infrastructure projects such as roads, footpaths, underpasses, health centres, water pipelines, and sewage lines. They demanded that the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) accelerate the work.
In response, Naik instructed civic officials to fast-track the projects and announced that a follow-up meeting will be held in a month to assess progress.
On the issue of water scarcity, Naik stated that the failure to receive Navi Mumbai’s due share from Barvi Dam over the past five years and eight months has directly impacted residents.
He emphasized that the situation is not due to local representatives especially since there is currently no elected general body in the civic house but a failure of the municipal administration under the Urban Development Department.
Naik added that he has personally raised the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, seeking restoration of the water backlog.
He also revealed that 500 MLD of water has been reserved for Navi Mumbai in the proposed Poshir Dam project in Raigad, which he said would provide long term relief to the city.
