NAGPUR: The summer has just begun and most parts of the city are already facing severe water crisis. The extent of water shortage was evident from the uproar by corporators of both opposition and ruling parties during the general body meeting on Friday.

The house slammed private water operator Orange City Water Limited (OCWL) for its inefficiency in handling water works and directed Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials to engage its teams for ensuring proper water supply.

Taking serious cognisance of complaints from all party corporators, mayor Anil Sole directed the administration to issue notice to OCWL and hold meeting with officials of NMC and private operator.

As soon as the general body meeting started, leader of opposition Vikas Thakre asked Sole to allow discussion on water situation first before general body questions (GBQ) and proposals on agenda are taken up. Thakre said OCWL is a curse for citizens and civic body. "Most citizens are facing water scarcity or contaminated water. OCWL officials have failed to resolve issues. Even complaints from corporators are ignored. OCWL even registered an FIR against BJP corporator Praveen Bhishikar a day ago. NMC officials are sitting idle and passing the bucks to OCWL. Therefore, the discussion should be held on water situation," he said.

Corporator from Congress Abha Pande and Praful Gudadhe, NCP corporators Prakash Gajbhiye and Duneshwar Pethe, BSP corporators Murlidhar Meshram and Kishor Gajbhiye supported Thakre's demand.

Leader of ruling party Praveen Datke said the discussion on water was welcome but after the GBQ session. Some BJP corporators Dayashankar Tiwari and Sudhakar Kohle supported Datke. Sole requested corporators to allow completion of GBQ before discussing the water situation.

However, all corporators from Congress, NCP and BSP thronged the well of the house and started shouting slogans. Sole started GBQ and adjourned it due to the chaos.

After the house resumed, Sole allowed the discussion on water situation. All BSP corporators slammed OCWL's failure and adamant attitude towards the corporators. They also staged a walkout, saying nothing is expected from the general body ruling.

Datke and Kohle blamed NMC officials for sitting idle and passing the buck to OCWL.

Giving his ruling, Sole directed the administration to ensure no FIR is registered against corporators without informing him. "Municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane should hold zone-wise meetings and constitute teams to ensure monitoring of water supply. NMC is responsible to citizens and should get works done from OCWL," he said. Sole also gave patient hearing to BSP corporators and gave directives according to their demands.

Both NCP and BJP faced embarrassment over the water issue. Despite walkout by opposition group leaders, two NCP corporators, Raju Nagulwar and Kamil Ansari, remained present in the house and raised issues.

Also, the BJP was on the back foot when senior corporator Jagdish Gwalbanshi stood and expressed disappointment over the discussion on water situation being disallowed. "This will send wrong message to the city. We should have allowed discussion, as many areas are facing severe water crisis," he said.

RAJKOT: The repairing work at two pumping stations on Narmada canal will hit the water supply to the city for two days. The city gets 20 minutes of water from Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) every alternate day.

Sources said that city will not get Narmada water from Saturday midnight to Monday morning due to repair work at Hadala and Hirapara pumping stations.

Meanwhile, RMC has decided to shut down three swimming pools at Race Course, Kalawad Road and Sinduriya till April 18 to save water.

RMC has also intensified the raids to detect water thefts. On Friday, 11 cases of water theft were detected from different wards.