Pune, Apr 11: Officials of Maharashtra's irrigation department provided water from the Dhom dam in Maharashtra's parched Satara district for use during the shooting of Shah rukh Khan's film Chennai Express causing consternation among the farmers.
A media report said, the state irrigation department has sought a report from its official into the supply and use of water from Dhom dam in Satara district for the shooting of the film.
According to local residents, shooting of the film was underway at a set established in Mugaon village, located in Wai taluka of Satara district.
The set was erected on the bank of Dhom dam. A garden was set up for shooting and for its maintenance, water was extracted from the dam, they said.
Pradip Patil, executive engineer at Dhom dam, said, "A team of irrigation officials is looking into the issue. Accordingly, a report will be submitted to higher authorities in the irrigation department. It will include details pertaining to questions raised by a section of people about the supply and use of water."
Patil said, "As per the rules, permission was granted by the irrigation department to the concerned company for shooting of a film. The company had paid the required advance money for using water and land for shooting."
Patil said department officials visited the site on Monday. The report is expected in the next eight days. Satara collector Ramswami N confirmed the development.
Krishanu Sarvabhaum alias Monty, line producer of Red Chillies Entertainment which is producing the film, said, "All the required permissions were taken from the irrigation department for shooting at the Dhom dam site. Tankers were used to supply water at the site. The water which was used at the set was purchased and the workers were provided mineral water."
Meanwhile, Satara police have arrested four villagers from Wai for allegedly threatening and attempting to extort money from the location manager of the upcoming Hindi flick Chennai Express, starring Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Police said the complaint was registered by Krushanu Sarvabhaum, the location manager for the film. Based on the complaint, police have arrested one Kisan Chirgute and his three accomplices.
Inspector Dayanand Dhome of Wai police station said, "The production company has been shooting for the film near Dhom dam since mid-February. The land is under the jurisdiction of irrigation department and the company has taken written permission from the department and has also paid money."
"Chirgute owns a land near Dhom dam and used to rent it for film shootings in the past.
But this time when the company directly approached the irrigation department, Chirgute started demanding money from the location manager. He first demanded Rs 35 lakh and then revised it to Rs 20 lakh.
On Thursday, Chirgute and three others entered the premises and threatened the location manager after which he approached us. We have arrested the suspects under the charges of extortion and criminal intimidation," added Dhome.
Dhome said the lead actors of the movie were not present at the location on Thursday.
