Nagpur: Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday announced that the state govt decided to release water from the Pench irrigation project to provide immediate relief to paddy growers in Nagpur and Bhandara districts, where deficient rainfall has increased irrigation needs.The guardian minister for Nagpur and Amravati districts said govt was closely monitoring the rainfall situation and reviewing reservoir levels, drinking water availability and disaster preparedness at every Cabinet meeting.Reacting to the launch of the new ‘E20 Janta Party’, Bawankule said everyone had the democratic right to form a political party, and its agenda should be assessed before commenting.On a question regarding the Thackeray brothers’ protest in Mumbai, he quipped, “Begani shaadi mein Abdullah deewana”.Referring to the food poisoning incident at a tribal ashram school in Dharani, Bawankule said those responsible would face stringent action and added that govt was considering decentralising kitchen facilities in tribal schools to prevent such incidents. Tribal Development minister Ashok Uike visited the site, and all affected students are receiving treatment, Bawankule said.On examination paper leaks, Bawankule said such offences jeopardise the future of lakhs of students and asserted that both the Centre and the state were strengthening legal provisions to curb such “anti-social activities”. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was personally monitoring the issue.The minister also said the govt was working to simplify the process of issuing caste validity certificates and was considering long-pending demands of various communities, including the Halba community.He said JCB machines provided to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation through District Planning Committee funds would be used only for removing unauthorised encroachments. A seven-member committee headed by the municipal commissioner will review cases before action is taken.Warning against non-compliance with high-security registration plate norms in vehicles, Bawankule said strict action would be initiated against violators. He also announced that a committee would be formed to coordinate road excavation works after verifying underground utilities to minimise damage to newly constructed cement roads.
