PUNE: The Beed district administration has registered Maharashtra’s first FIR against individuals allegedly drawing water illegally from an irrigation project using electric pumps, as the drought-hit district steps up efforts to protect its dwindling water resources.
When directed to remove the pumps, some allegedly argued with the team and obstructed government work. An NC complaint was subsequently registered at Dharur Police Station. An FIR was registered at Wadwani Police Station on October 8 under Sections 221, 223(a), 3(5) and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the district administration said. In a separate operation at the Aranwadi storage tank in Kaij taluka on October 8, officials from the minor irrigation sub-division, Kaij, and police found electric pumps allegedly being used to draw water without authorisation.
“A joint team of the water resources department and police inspected the Upper Kundalika Medium Project in Wadwani taluka on October 7 and found farmers allegedly drawing water using electric pumps without permission,” said Beed police officials. A separate non-cognisable (NC) complaint was also registered at Dharur Police Station after individuals allegedly obstructed officials from discharging their duties at another water body on Thursday.
