Hundreds of women and activists of the Elgar Shramik Sanghatana staged an aggressive protest in Igatpuri on Monday, April 14, against alleged corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission and the acute water shortage in tribal villages of Igatpuri and Trimbak talukas. The protesters had gathered at Igatpuri railway station, preparing to march to the Mantralaya, but temporarily suspended the agitation after officials agreed to hold a joint meeting of all department heads at the Igatpuri Sub-Divisional Officer’s office on Tuesday, April 15.
The founder president of Elgar Shramik Sanghatana, Bhagwan Madhe, led the demonstration and interacted with representatives from the Water Supply Department, Tehsil Office, Police Administration and the District Collectorate, who rushed to the spot as tensions rose. After deliberations, the administration assured that a meeting would be held to address the organisation’s demands, leading to a temporary suspension of the agitation.
Speaking to the media, Madhe warned that if the meeting fails to produce satisfactory outcomes, the agitation will resume without any prior notice. He launched a scathing attack on political leaders contesting elections in Igatpuri and Trimbak, accusing them of apathy towards the tribal population. “Where are the leaders who talk about development? They do not see the pots on the heads of women,” he said.
Madhe alleged that despite the presence of multiple dams in the region, tribal women are forced to walk long distances for drinking water, pointing to gross negligence and corruption in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission. The protesters claimed that several tribal villages have been deliberately excluded from the scheme and that the ongoing projects are incomplete due to systemic irregularities.
Among the key demands raised by Elgar Shramik Sanghatana are: a comprehensive investigation into all ongoing and incomplete Jal Jeevan Mission works in Nashik district, inclusion of tribal households currently left out of the scheme, blacklisting of negligent contractors, immediate deployment of water tankers in water-scarce areas, and supply of water for the scheme from the Vaitarna dam.
The administration has scheduled a joint departmental meeting on Tuesday to discuss these demands, including water shortage, alleged corruption in the Jal Jeevan Mission, and punitive action against those responsible. Madhe maintained that the organisation will not tolerate any delay or inaction, especially when the lives of tribal communities are at stake.
Further course of action will depend on the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting.
Key demands of Elgar Shramik Sanghatana:
- Full investigation into all ongoing and incomplete Jal Jeevan Mission works
- Inclusion of excluded tribal villages in the scheme
- Immediate deployment of water tankers to scarcity-hit areas
- Accountability for corrupt contractors and officials
- Diversion of water from Vaitarna Dam to support the mission
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