CM says, no deadline set for SIT report on irrigation scam


Published in The Hitavada main edition on May 15, 2013

No deadline for SIT report on irrigation scam: CM

* Chavan admits to ‘problems with quality’ pertaining to some works in Gosikhurd project

Staff Reporter
GOSIKHURD, May 14: ADOPTING a cautious stand on multi-crore irrigation scam, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan shied away from revealing details of action being taken against those guilty of siphoning off funds meant for irrigation development in Vidarbha, and said that no deadline was set for filing of report by the Special Inquiry Team (SIT) headed by water expert Dr Madhavrao Chitaley to probe into the scam.
Chavan said, the SIT was appointed to go into details of various irrigation projects and suggest measures to chalk out future strategy regarding irrigation development in Maharashtra. “We have not set any time-frame to submit its report,” Chavan said. Recently, Dr Chitaley had said that the SIT had held its meeting in January 2013 and would submit its report within six months. Against this backdrop, Chavan’s statement is surprising.
Commenting on poor quality of work in Gosikhurd project, Chavan said, “Central Water Commission had pointed out some problems. Centre has instructed to ensure that the work is done strictly in accordance with quality norms. Accordingly, steps are being taken.”. Though he admitted that there were ‘problems with quality’ of some works pertaining to Gosikhurd national project, he shied away from answering queries regarding action taken against contractors and officials. When his attention was drawn towards findings of Mendhegiri Committee based on which he had announced probe against 45 officials of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) and the then Executive Director D P Shirke, he said that appropriate action would be taken after probe was over.
Asked about blacklisting of contractors who did sub-standard work and massive siphoning off of funds meant for irrigation development, Chavan declined a comment saying that several court cases have been filed in this regard. Chief Minister ducked a question regarding his claim made over a year back that despite spending over Rs 70,000 crore, area under irrigation had increased only by 0.1 per cent in last 10 years. When pointed out that his party colleague and Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil had stuck to the claim in a statement made recently at Nagpur, Chavan plainly said, “I had not made that statement.”
Regarding shocking disclosures made in incriminating documents of Income Tax Department, as pointed out by social activist Medha Patkar, Chavan said that Income Tax Department had not informed him about this. “The department will take necessary action and it is for Union Finance Minister to take a call on this,” he added.

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