Builders' lobby behind pipeline project in Pune: Bharatiya Kisan Sangh

Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, (BKS), the umbrella organisation of farmers in Maharashtra, has claimed the Rs500 crore closed water pipeline project of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), is being promoted at the behest of the builders' lobby.

BKS president Mauli Tupe was addressing a press conference on Friday in Pune.

The pipeline project has been in the limelight since the last three years, with the farmers of Maval taluka, protesting against this project. On Tuesday three farmers were killed in police firing in Maval, during a protest by farmers in that area.

Tupe claimed that 15,000 acres of agricultural land in Maval depends on the live stream of the river for irrigation. "If the closed water pipeline project, is implemented, those lands will turn fallow in the absence of water and the farmers will be forced to sell their land at cheap rates. The builders' lobby is fuelling the politicos, who are pushing for the completion of the project,'' he claimed.

Tupe also criticised the Pune rural police for the excessive use of force. In particular, he was critical of the action of superintendent of police Sandeep Karnik. "Karnik has been changing his statements over the last three days and that proves his complicity in the process,'' he said.

He also denied that protestors had come armed with stones to attack the police.

He also trained his guns at deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. "Pawar had time and again told us that he would push the project and the firing on Tuesday was at his behest,'' he claimed.

The BKS would be approaching the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), about the incident soon. Tupe affirmed opposition to the project in the future too.