Negligible rise in State’s irrigation potential: PAC
* Seeks details of increase in area under irrigation
Staff Reporter
While
the report of special inquiry team (SIT) appointed by the State
Government to look into irrigation scam is likely to be submitted to the
Government by December 31, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has touched
the area. In its latest report, PAC of State Legislature has observed
that increase in irrigation potential of the State has been negligible
compared to huge expenditure of Rs 70,000 crore in past 15 years.
Scrutinising various aspects related to Water Resources Department
(WRD), PAC quoted the Economic Survey of Maharashtra report tabled last
year during budget session of State Legislature. The survey report
stated that there was only 0.1 per cent increase in area under
irrigation in past 15 years despite spending huge amount of Rs 70,000
crore. When PAC asked WRD about only 0.1 per cent increase in area under
irrigation in last 15 years despite spending Rs 70,000 crore; the
officials of WRD assured to provide relevant information ‘separately’.
PAC’s observation holds significance as it has come at a time when the
political leaders are almost on the verge of forgetting the shocking
episode of multi-crore irrigation scam. In its latest report tabled on
December 17 during recently concluded winter session of State
Legislature, PAC has observed that increase in irrigation potential of
the State was ‘negligible’ compared to massive expenditure of Rs 70,000
crore. Taking the matter seriously, PAC has asked WRD to submit detailed
information related to rise in irrigation potential of State before and
after formation of various irrigation development corporations.
During its hearings, PAC asked the WRD officials about irrigation
potential created before formation of irrigation development
corporations. As per the PAC report, WRD officials claimed that
irrigation potential created till June 1997 (before formation of
irrigation development corporations) was 32.28 lakh hectares, and it
increased to 48.25 lakh hectares till the end of June 2011. As per the
records scrutinised by PAC, an amount of Rs 11,600 crore was spent on
irrigation development before formation of irrigation development
corporations, and Rs 53,500 after that.
It may be recalled here that negligible rise in creation of irrigation
potential of the State had kicked up a political storm with Congress
leader and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan questioning the performance
of WRD headed by leaders of ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Chavan even announced that the State Government would publish a ‘White
Paper on Irrigation’ to make the picture clear.
Following that, ‘The Hitavada’ had run a series of reports titled ‘Black
Paper on Irrigation’ exposing irrigation scam committed by an unholy
nexus of contractors-bureaucrats-politicians. The expose on
all-party loot shook up the corridors of power, and led to NCP stalwart
and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar tendering resignation as he was
Water Resources Minister for most of the years referred to. Later on,
Chavan relented and after announcement of a SIT headed by eminent water
expert Dr Madhavrao Chitaley, Ajit Pawar returned to the seat of power
as Deputy Chief Minister. Chitaley panel also was granted extension of
six months earlier this year. The extension will come to an end on
December 31.
(Published in The Hitavada CityLine on December 26, 2013)
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