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By Sunita 

Pune: MNS president Raj Thackeray has criticised the state government after visiting flood-affected areas in the city. He said, “Citizens should have been given a prior intimation before releasing so much water from the dam. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and both Deputy Chief Ministers should look into the situation in Pune.”

Thackeray said, “The dam water was released even though the district guardian minister was not in Pune.”

Training his guns on the state government, he said, “Local residents did not have an idea that so much water would be released. This resulted in inundation of societies. The state government should ponder over this. It took time to ruin Mumbai. However, Pune will be ruined quickly. I have been telling this for the past many years. The state government sends a development plan. But town planning does not happen.”

Alleging a lack of planning, Thackeray said, “Measures have to be taken considering growing student and vehicle populations. However, nothing is done in any city of the State in this regard. The only business that is growing is selling vacant plots. Some officials from the civic body and the state government are joining hands with builders and ruining cities.”

‘Why isn’t the Centre holding the civic elections?’

Thackeray said, “The central government is not holding civic elections for the past two-three years. MLAs will be elected after the state assembly polls. Who will carry the responsibility if corporators are not there? Who will discuss issues with the administration? The administration has the responsibility. They should support citizens. You are distributing free homes to people coming from outside the State. But local people are begging. Is this called running a government?

“Pune has expanded exponentially. Nothing will happen if an official is suspended. CM Shinde and both Deputy CMs should personally look into the floods in Pune. It is really unfortunate what is happening in Maharashtra today. It is vote politics. Politicians should introspect. This does not auger well for the State. You should not divide people on caste lines. It is not good for the future.”