NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar during his visit to Nashik city on Wednesday
Nashik : NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday clarified that he was not against the Rs 35,000-crore infrastructure push for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, but said he would strongly oppose any alleged corruption in the execution of the projects. Even if the expenditure goes up to Rs 50,000 crore, we have no objection. He pointed to contamination concerns reported in parts of Nashik, especially Dattanagar and areas near Ambad MIDC, where residents have expressed concern over the quality of borewell water.
Speaking at a news conference in Nashik, Pawar said the scale of spending was not the issue as long as public funds were used for genuinely essential work. That is what should be prioritised, considering the importance of Godavari river water,” he said. Expressing concern over the possible impact of polluted water on pilgrims, Pawar said thousands of sadhus and devotees would visit Nashik during the Kumbh Mela and could face health risks if water quality issues remained unresolved. If the details are still not provided, I will be compelled to move court,” he said.
“We are not against Kumbh Mela works. But the funds must be spent on necessary works such as cleaning the Godavari river and setting up sewage treatment plants. Pawar alleged that key environmental concerns linked to the Kumbh preparations were being ignored and questioned the state govt’s handling of pollution-related issues. “Social activists have sought information through RTI applications and I too sought project details through public notices. As an MLA, I have the right to access information related to these projects.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nashik | Silver Rate in Nashik | Bank Holidays in Nashik | Public Holidays in Nashik | Petrol Price in Nashik | Diesel Price in Nashik | CNG Price in Nashik | LPG Price in Nashik Stay updated with the latest Nashik news.
Recalling his visit to Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh, he said he had not witnessed similar interventions there. “Large portions of the riverbed and areas around Ramkund had been concretised,” he said. Pawar criticised extensive concretisation of stretches of Godavari riverbed in Nashik, warning that it was eroding the river’s natural character and springs and could create challenges during floods. He also questioned the transparency of Kumbh-related projects and claimed that requests for details of various works had not received adequate responses. The MLA also criticised the state govt over drought relief, saying immediate and substantial assistance should be provided to farmers facing drought conditions. Download the TOI App.