Mumbai:
In an unprecedented move, cops in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district have been deployed to prevent possible theft of water in drought-affected Marathwada region, after the Bombay High Court ordered release of water to the reservoirs in the area.
Last month, the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court ordered release of water to the Jayakwadi reservoir in Aurangabad from the upstream Bhandardara and Nilwande dams.
The court in its order said, "We direct the Superintendent of Police, police officers of concerned districts and areas to maintain strict vigilance and provide appropriate security so that no untoward incident occurs."
Police inspector Vasant Tambe from the Ghargaon Police Station in Ahmednagar district told NDTV, "Water has been released towards Jayakwadi. We have made adequate preparations to let the water flow uninterrupted. An assistant police inspector, a police inspector and 22 policemen have been posted at Bhandardara."
The Maharashtra Police have warned that there could be law and order problems as there may be conflicts over usage of water. The cops are prepared to tackle any situation that may arise from such disputes.
Ahmednagar Superintendent of Police Raosaheb Shinde told NDTV, "All police stations, which have jurisdiction over the areas through which the water passes, are deploying personnel. We are also providing policemen to civic authorities during disconnection of electricity and seizure of illegal water pumps when water passes through the area."
Marathwada is facing one of the worst droughts in the state and the situation is expected to get worse in summer.