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.
