The Bharatiya Janata Party youth wing has begun a `dharna' at Nehru Gate from 6 am today. The Congress unit of Morbi has submitted a memorandam to Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, District Collector Pravin Trivedi and deputy collector of Morbi threatening to launch an agitation if the decision was not reverted.

Local leaders in Morbi said that the State Government was trying to gain political mileage by depriving Morbi and Maliya to give water to Rajkot.

The BJP has, in a fax to the Chief Minister, said some areas in Morbi were already hit by irregular water supply. In such a situation, the Government's decision to supply water to Rajkot would only aggravate the crisis in Morbi and surrounding areas.

Raj Gopal, however, said Irrigation Department figures suggested that the loss of water due to evaporation and seepage in Macchu 2 dam was high.So, the difference in water level if the Rajkot Municipal Corporation lifted water would not be very high.

He said the plan drawn up by the Government would ensure regular supply of water to Morbi and surrounding areas throughout the year.

He added that in this situation of natural scarcity, the State Government had taken into its hands all decisions on diversion and supply of water throughout the State.

Meet convened
Rajkot: In a special meeting of the RMC Standing Committee convened on Tuesday, a proposal to tackle the city's water crisis was passed. The Standing Committee passed the proposal on the request of Municipal Commissioner Raj Gopal who said the Government would bear the expenses of laying pipelines and the corporation would look after their maintenance and operation.