CAG report confirms 'The Hitavada expose


Published in The Hitavada on April 19, 2013

CAG report confirms ‘The Hitavada’ expose

By Kartik Lokhande

‘The Hitavada’ was the first to expose unholy nexus of contractors-bureaucrats-politicians in siphoning off thousands of crores of rupees meant for irrigation development of rainfed region of Vidarbha. 

In its multi-episode series titled ‘Black Paper on Irrigation’, ‘The Hitavada’ had pointed out how irrigation projects were deprived of funds first and then how massive cost escalations were allowed in the name of revised administrative approvals. Despite massive cost escalation of over Rs 26,000 crore in case of 38 projects in Vidarbha region in the year 2009 alone, many projects are still incomplete. 

The latest CAG report has confirmed ‘The Hitavada’ reportage on the issue. Previously also, CAG report had vindicated ‘The Hitavada’ reports on irregular grant of mobilisation/machinery advance to contractors in violation of norms. CAG observations in the latest report indicate that inequitable distribution of funds and diversion of funds affected progress of many irrigation projects in Vidarbha region, which has been a victim of developmental backlog. In its series, ‘The Hitavada’ had also exposed how the then Water Resources Minister Ajit Pawar’s secretary Suresh Jadhav had asked WRD officials to scrap circular terming grant of mobilisation/machinery advance as ‘not permissible’. Further, it had brought to fore how VIDC bosses overlooked company frauds committed by influential contractor firms. 

Though the CAG has not included all the aspects of irrigation scam in the scope of its report, the aspects it has commented upon only confirms ‘The Hitavada’ reportage.

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