Mumbai, June 20: Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Maharashtra has demanded urgent relief measures over the looming water crisis in the state.
In a statement to the media, the JIH Maharashtra President said, “We demand urgent relief measures over the looming water crisis in the state. Live water stock is falling rapidly. According to reports, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has the least average live water stock at 9.11%, followed by Pune at 13.06%, Nashik at 22.78%, Konkan at 29.24%, Amravati at 36.90%, and Nagpur at 36.99%. In Beed five of the eight major dams i.e. Borgaon Anjanpur, Majalgaon, Manjara, Roshanpuri, and Sirasmarg have zero live water stock. In the Dharashiv belt, five of the nine major dams have 0% live water stock. More than 3000 villages in Maharashtra are being supplied with water tankers. A ‘handa’ of drinking water is being sold for Rs. 5 and a barrel of water for daily use is being sold for Rs. 60. Why are the citizens of Maharashtra being deprived of their basic necessity like water? The government must act urgently.”
Maulana Ilyas Khan Falahi averred, “Lack of water has damaged more than 11 lakh sweet lemon trees in the orchards of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and adjacent Jalna district of Maharashtra. It is very painful to know that at a time when Marathwada region is facing regular water shortage, just 12 companies in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar produced 761.53 lakh bulk litres of liquor and 3,778.28 bulk litres of beer in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The government must ensure that the people of Maharashtra receive water first and not these alcohol producing companies. The state government must focus on Sustainable Development Goal # 6 to ensure access to water and sanitation for all”.
