Mumbai: In a shocking revelation, a controversial godman, Captain Ashok Kharat, allegedly received a massive amount of water meant for drought-hit Marathwada.
According to reports, around 3.9 million liters of water per day was approved for Kharat’s Shivnika Sansthan located in Mirgaon (Sinnar, Nashik district). This water was diverted from the Darna dam project after a recommendation by the Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation. The decision was officially approved by a cabinet sub-committee on July 31, 2020.
Meanwhile, many parts of Marathwada, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, depend on the Jayakwadi dam for water supply. Due to low rainfall, the region often faces severe water shortages, leaving people struggling for daily needs.
Experts say that if we consider a basic need of 55 liters per person per day, the same 3.9 million liters could have provided water to nearly 70,000–72,000 people.
Adding to the controversy, reports claim that a 48 km long pipeline was built to transport this water to the godman’s ashram.
This issue has raised serious questions about water management and priorities, especially when thousands of people in drought-prone areas continue to suffer.
