Pune: Activists and residents have expressed displeasure after their initial astonishment to see a tanker watering plants on a Metro median on Paud Road during heavy showers on Friday. A video of the incident surfaced on social media platforms and has gone viral since.The shrubs being watered are planted below the Metro’s viaduct.Civic activist Sandeep Khardekar has written a letter to the civic chief seeking an inquiry, saying such wastage of water needs to stop immediately. He said many people approached him to express anger since the city is already reeling under a water crisis and battling alternate-day supply to deal with the situation. “Watering of plants during showers amounts to wastage. We have sought an explanation from the authorities,” he told TOI.Maha Metro officials said the contractor responsible for advertisements on the Metro median had deployed the tanker. “The contractor has planted the bushes and looks over its upkeep. The contractor told us that rain water doesn’t reach the plants, since the particular area of the median is right below the viaduct,” they said.An official said, “Despite an explanation, we have directed the contractor to avoid wastage of money and only water plants that so require. The Maha Metro will not accept wastage or misuse of water.”The plants cover the maximum stretch of the Metro median on the Vanaz to Ramwadi route. Residents said that at some locations, the medians have become garbage dumping spots and the authorities should look into that issue on priority.
