Chandrapur: Former MP Naresh Puglia has urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to expedite three proposed barrages on the Wardha and Irai rivers to avert a potentially severe water crisis next summer.In a letter to the chief minister, Puglia called for work on the projects to begin on a war footing, citing growing concerns over water availability for industries, urban centres and villages.The proposed Wardha river projects include a barrage near Ballarpur to meet the needs of the town, Ballarpur Paper Mill and neighbouring villages, and another in the Bhoyegaon-Pipri area of Korpana taluka. The latter is expected to supply water to four major cement manufacturers — Ambuja, UltraTech, Manikgarh and Dalmia — as well as Gadchandur town.Puglia has also called for an MIDC-led barrage on the Wardha river, citing the existing structure near Marda village in Warora taluka as a model for augmenting water storage for power plants and surrounding areas. On the Irai river, he has proposed a barrage near Ramsetu bridge to improve supplies to Chandrapur city and neighbouring gram panchayats.Puglia identified Warora, Bhadravati, Tadali MIDC, Ghugus, Ballarpur and Rajura among the urban and industrial centres whose water needs must be secured, along with those of major cement and power plants dependent on the Wardha river and associated infrastructure.Warning that prolonged scarcity could disrupt industrial production, threaten workers’ livelihoods and worsen hardship in rural areas, he urged the chief minister to direct the district administration and concerned departments to expedite clearances and take up the projects without delay.
