Don't release Nashik dam water for shahi snan without permission: Bombay High Court to Maharashtra government

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the state government not to release water from the Gangapur dam in Nashik for the shahi snan at Kumbh Mela, scheduled on September 25 and in October, unless it has prior permission from the court.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and VL Achilya took on record the statement made by the Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council's chief engineer that it would not be releasing water from the dam for the September 25 shahi snan, but it was yet to take a decision on the one on October 12.

The court allowed the government and corporation to release the water for drinking purpose and other necessary facilities, but not shahi snan. The direction was given while hearing a petition filed by HM Desarda, a professor from Pune, seeking quashing of the state government's decision to release one thousand million cubic feet water for every 'shahi snan' as the state is reeling under a drought.

Earlier, the court had asked, "What is the legal justification for what you (government) have done? The government has a policy which categorises its priority list with respect to water supply. As per the policy, supply of water for drinking purposes comes first and for such 'shahi snan' purposes comes in the last and fourth category," the court had said.