PERNEM
Locals of Kasarvarne have objected to ongoing work on a pump house along the banks of the Bailpar river and have filed a police complaint in the matter, after alleging that the project is illegal.
Kasarvarne Sarpanch Ramesh Palienkar has claimed the panchayat was not taken into confidence regarding the project, nor was an NOC sought from the panchayat.
Incidentally, Palienkar was himself present along with panch members and former deputy chief minister Babu Ajgaonkar during the Bhoomi Puja that took place shortly before the assembly elections.
Farmers have alleged that the real intention of building the pump house is not to provide water for the fields in the area but to divert it for projects such as the Mopa airport and Ayush hospital.
Some BJP karyakartas led by Pernem MLA Praveen Arlekar had even stopped the work about 15 days back, but work resumed the next day.
An irrigation department official has claimed that the work has been approved by the government and hence, did not need any NOC from the local panchayat.
Another official informed that two pump houses are being built on the river at an estimated cost of Rs 27 crore.
