INDIA: Police charge demonstrators protesting against water scarcity in the Indian city of Mumbai

Record ID: 1376927

  • Title: INDIA: Police charge demonstrators protesting against water scarcity in the Indian city of Mumbai
  • Date: 4th December 2009
  • Summary: MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (DECEMBER 03, 2009) (ANI) PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS IN THE STREET PROTEST ORGANISER NILESH RANE, SON OF CONGRESS LEADER NARAYAN RANE, WALKING WITH THE PROTESTERS POLICE PERSONNEL WALKING ALONGSIDE THE PROTESTERS NILESH RANE SHOUTING SLOGANS WITH OTHER PROTESTERS POLICE PERSONNEL WALKING EXTERIOR OF BRIHUN MUMBAI CORPORATION (BMC) BUILDING PROTESTERS WALKING POLICE BATON-CHARGING THE DEMONSTRATORS A PROTESTER ON CRUTCHES FALLING DOWN POLICE USING BATONS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) NILESH RANE, SON OF CONGRESS LEADER NARAYAN RANE, SAYING "There is a lot of corruption happening and the influence of the water mafia is deepening. The common man today is forced to buy water, even beg for it. It is against that we have launched this movement. Today is the start of this movement and till the common person gets a 24-hour non-disruptive supply of water, we will keep protesting. These days when BMC sends its water tanks, people are forced to pay rupees 20 to 25 (45 to 55 US cents) to please the operators. If someone wants a pipeline laid, they are forced to cough out rupees 7000 (over 150 US dollars). This protest is against this water mafia. From today till the commoners get enough water, we'll keep agitating." PROTESTERS BEATING UP AN EFFIGY PROTESTERS BURNING EFFIGY
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2009 13:19
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVAEFC310YASRGDEG93KC0M5W7J3
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Nilesh Rane, son of Congress party leader Narayan Rane, organised a street demonstration against acute water shortages and the rising cost of water in Mumbai in India's western state of Maharashtra on Thursday (December 03).
    Activists and local residents demonstrated outside the building of the civic body, Brihun Mumbai Corporation (Greater Mumbai Corporation).
    Rane says corruption is making the situation intolerable.
    "There is a lot of corruption happening and the influence of the water mafia is deepening. The common man today is forced to buy water, even beg for it. It is against that we have launched this movement," he said.
    "Today is the start of this movement and till the common person gets a 24-hour non-disruptive supply of water, we will keep protesting. These days when BMC sends its water tanks, people are forced to pay rupees 20 to 25 (45 to 55 US cents) to please the operators. If someone wants a pipeline laid, they are forced to cough out rupees 7000 (over 150 US dollars). This protest is against this water mafia. From today till the commoners get enough water, we'll keep agitating," Rane added.
    Police wielding batons broke up the protesters.
    Earlier, the regional Shiv Shena party had also staged a demonstration on the same issue. Water shortages in Mumbai have become severe because of the failure of monsoon rains.
    Locals and some political parties have voiced their anger over the deepening water crisis and the impact on daily life
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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