IndiaPosted at: Nov 5 2026 1:46PM


Khera questions Fadnavis over water for Data Centres, says farmers left to battle drought

New Delhi, Nov 5 (UNI) Congress leader Pawan Khera has questioned Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the state government's reported plan to treat sewage water and sell the reclaimed water to data centres, accusing it of prioritising commercial interests while farmers continue to grapple with drought and water shortages.
In a sharply worded post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Khera questioned why the state could mobilise its technological and financial resources to ensure water supplies for data centres but could not make similar investments to provide relief to farmers. He claimed that at least 10 cultivators had died by suicide in Maharashtra in a single week, allegedly due to agrarian distress.
"Hello @Dev_Fadnavis, you have an elaborate plan to treat sewage water and sell reclaimed water to data centres," Khera wrote, taking a swipe at the Chief Minister over the proposed initiative.
"I understand your excitement because this could earn you a few hundred crores and help fund your lavish 'Bollywood' lifestyle," he added, launching a personal attack on Fadnavis while questioning the government's priorities.
Drawing attention to the recurring tragedy of farmer suicides, Khera said, "Year after year, we witness the same tragedy." He asked whether the state government had any plans to invest public money in a similar system to reclaim wastewater and make it available for agricultural use.
"Do you have any plans to invest public money in a system to reclaim water for farmers?" he asked, suggesting that the government appeared less interested in projects that did not promise comparable commercial returns.
"If you can mobilise the full technological might of the state to make data centres possible, why can't you do the same for farmers?" Khera said.
His remarks have brought the spotlight back on Maharashtra's persistent agrarian crisis, particularly in drought-prone regions where erratic rainfall, inadequate irrigation, crop losses and mounting indebtedness have continued to put farming households under severe financial pressure. Farmer suicides remain a major concern in several agricultural belts, with successive governments facing demands for better irrigation facilities, timely crop-loss compensation, financial assistance and long-term water management solutions.
The proposed use of treated sewage water for data centres has also raised a broader question about the allocation and management of Maharashtra's limited water resources as the state seeks to attract investments in technology and digital infrastructure.
Reclaimed wastewater, after appropriate treatment, can provide an alternative source for industrial and commercial consumption, reducing dependence on freshwater supplies. However, Khera's criticism centres on whether similar investments in wastewater treatment, recycling and distribution could be extended to agriculture, particularly in areas where water scarcity leaves farmers vulnerable to crop failures and financial distress.
The Congress leader's challenge to Fadnavis is, in essence, whether the state government's technological capabilities and financial resources can be deployed with the same urgency to address the water needs of farmers as they are being mobilised to facilitate commercial infrastructure and attract investment. UNI SKA AAB
Tags: #Khera questions Fadnavis over water for Data Centres# says farmers left to battle drought
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