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Saibaba's abode reeling under water shortage

Press Trust of India  |  Shirdi  

July 30, 2014 Last Updated at 21:02 IST

Severe shortage of water in the abode of Saibaba has forced authorities to cut down online bookings for devotees and launch measures to save water. 

However, the situation is likely to improve soon as Darna dam in neighbouring Nashik district from which Shirdi and other towns in Ahmednagar district get water is filled 70 per cent due to rains in its catchment areas. 

The town is reeling under scarcity as poor rains have caused drying of water supply schemes being run by the Shirdi Municipal Council and Saibaba Sansthan Trust. 

"Three of our storage tanks are dried up. In a bid to save water, we are serving thermocol plates to our devotees in the 'Prasadalayas'. We have curtailed our online bookings for devotees from current 90 per cent to 70 per cent due to scarcity," an officer with the Saibaba Trust said on condition of anonymity. 

Chief Officer of Shirdi Municipal Council Dhairyasheelrao Jadhav told PTI that at present Shirdi is getting drinking water only once in four days. 

Shirdi, Puntamba and Kopargaon towns in Ahmednagar district get water from Darna dam in Nashik. 

"However, due to drought-like situation, the Irrigation Department has delayed its rotation which caused drying of water supply," he said. 

Though water level in the dam has increased due to rains now, the water released from the dam will reach these towns, including Shirdi, at least after three days. 

"Shirdi water supply scheme has the capacity of 580 mcft. We require daily 45 lakh litres of water. However, most of water is being lost due to leakage in water storage tanks and due to wells dug up by farmers nearby the tanks," Jadhav said. 

When contacted, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said that drought-like situation has caused scarcity of water. "If necessary, we will take a stern action against farmers who dig up wells nearby tanks," he said.

Tamil Sai devotees ‘walkathon’ to Shirdi

On their arrival in Shirdi on July 27, Deputy Executive officer of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Appasaheb Shinde warmly welcomed and congratulated them for their 31-day feat.

This is not for the first time for this group to make the 1650 km long walkathon from Chennai to Shirdi.

“We have been walking the distance for the past four years invoke Sai’s blessings”, V. Chandramouli, who has been leading the ‘long march’, said.

He added that every year they carry Sai Baba’s palanquin as a mark of their devotion to the deity in Shirdi.

“Next year, we wish to bring Sai Baba’s chariot”, the Sai Walkers’ leader said.

Other members of the Sai devotee group from Chennai making the long march are B. M. Gupta, Shridhar Gupta, T. D. Ashokkumar, S. Kartikeyan, S.S. Anand, A. Radhakrishnamurti, A. Suman, P. S. Parmeshwaran, M.S. Shaktidayalan, S. Mohanraj, P.V. Kadiravan, M. Lingam, R. Udaykumar, and R. Umadan.

The group used to walk fifty kilometres every day. They covered the 1650 km distance between Chennai and Shirdi in 31-days.

After leaving Chennai, they took “Sai Darshan” at Sai temple in Mailapur, and paid their obeisance at Pattipulam Sai temple.

Pattipulam is some 70 Km from their starting point. Here the Temple President K. V. Ramani felicitated every one of the Sai walkers with Tulsi garland, and wished them ‘a happy, comfortable, walk ahead’.

Ramani kept in touch the ‘walkers’ throughout their march inquiring about their health.

Chandramouli and his team of devotees visited Tirupati and Pandharpur enroute. At Tirupati, they invoked the blessings of Balaji. And at Pandharpur, the Sai Walkers had Darshan of Shri Vithhal.

On arrival in Shirdi, Chandramouli said “Saibaba is the great Saint of this era. We experience his existence and presence every day. We must pray from the depths of our heart to be heard”

Welcoming them, Appasaheb Shinde wished them a great Darshan and comfortable stay in the temple town. He assured them of all necessary help, according to Sansthan PRO. Mohan Yadav.

- Asian Tribune

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