Power plants got drinking water: NGO

MUMBAI: Water reserved for drinking purposes in drought-hit areas was provided to thermal power plants, alleged a report released by NGO Greenpeace on Wednesday.
The NGO further claimed that the allocation was in violation of a decision taken by the state in January.
In wake of the drought in the state this year, the NGO conducted a study on allocation to water-intensive thermal power plants in drought-hit belts and stumbled upon the violation, claimed Jai Kumar R, campaigner, Greenpeace."Additional water was provided to Parli power plant in Beed after January 21, when a state resolution reserved all water from dams in drought-hit areas for drinking purposes. This continued till February 21, when the plant was shut down," he said.
The decision to provide additional 5,000mld water to the power plant from Parbhani's Mudgal barrage was taken in December.
"The decision was taken despite being aware of the crisis in summerEven during a drought, the state seems to deprioritize drinking water needs of farmers and villages in drought-hit belts," he said. With several talukas in Buldhana and Jalgaon facing severe drought, the NGO has demanded a review of water allocations to Jalgaon'sBhusawal power plant and Akola'sParas power plant.