27-02-14
* Oppn warns of going to the court of law if evidences given by its leaders have not been considered while preparing the report
By Kartik Lokhande
Finally, after two extensions, the Special Inquiry Team (SIT)
constituted to probe multi-crore rupees irrigation scam submitted its
report to Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI). Now, it remains
to be seen if the report is tabled before State Legislature on Friday,
which is the last day of session for vote-on-account.
Confirming the development to ‘The Hitavada’, SIT chief Dr Madhavrao
Chitaley said that he had submitted the report to WALMI Chief Engineer
on Wednesday. He refused to divulge details or content of the report
saying that it would not be appropriate before the report was tabled
before State Legislature. However, he said that the report ran into 800
pages and was in two volumes. “One volume pertains to observations of
the committee and another is mostly annexures like maps, charts, letters
etc,” he said.
Following immense pressure, Maharashtra Government appointed a SIT
headed by eminent water expert Dr Madhavrao Chitaley to conduct a probe
into the irrigation scam. With watered down Terms of Reference (ToR),
the Opposition had suspected that the SIT report would not bring out
anything substantial. The SIT comprised former Additional Chief
Secretary (Finance) A K D Jadhav, former Irrigation Secretary V M
Ranade, and former Agriculture Commissioner Krishna Lavhekar. it was
expected to submit the report by June 2013, but was granted first
extension of six months. But, before December 31, 2013, the SIT was
given another extension till February 28, 2014.
Just a couple of days before expiry of extended deadline, SIT submitted
its report to WALMI in whose premises SIT’s office was functional.
Speculations are rife about its contents. Sources said that the panel
has not indicted any politician. Besides, certain documents of
evidential value that linked Ajit Pawar to the scam, have not been
considered while preparing the report.
Commenting on the development, BJP state chief and MLA Devendra Fadnavis
said that the Opposition would move to court if the SIT had not
considered the evidences submitted by the Opposition leaders. Fadnavis
himself and Leader of Opposition (Council) Vinod Tawde had submitted a
huge bulk of documents related to irrigation scam to SIT chief Dr
Madhavrao Chitaley.
Though the report has been submitted by SIT to WALMI, it is not likely
to be tabled before State Legislature on Friday. Later, the report is
not likely to come up for discussion before State Legislature’s next
session that will be conducted after the Lok Sabha elections. The
Opposition is demanding the SIT report to be tabled on Friday. But, the
Democratic Front Government has held the view that it is not mandatory
to table the report before Legislature as SIT was not a commission
appointed under Commission of Inquiry Act. With only one day remaining
for prorogation of the ongoing session of State Legislature, it is not
likely that the report will be tabled. Still, Congress may use the
report to mount political pressure over its ally Nationalist Congress
Party (NCP). Besides, the main Opposition party BJP will use the
opportunity to target DF Government.
‘The Hitavada’ expose
‘The Hitavada’ had exposed through its series ‘Black Paper on Irrigation’ how the unholy nexus of contractors-bureaucrats-politicians
had siphoned of thousands of crores of rupees from State exchequer in
the name of irrigation development of Maharashtra, and especially
rainfed region of Vidarbha.
In its extensive reportage, ‘The Hitavada’ had quoted several official
records to reveal how estimates of various works were inflated in the
name of grant of revised administrative approval. Besides, there were
instances of politically influential contractors getting machinery and
mobilisation advance, though it was not allowed as per the norms. The
irrigation scam was an all-party loot with names of many influential
contractors-turned-politicians surfacing.
‘The Hitavada’ reports had created flutter across the political
spectrum. The reports had led to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who
was Water Resources Minister during the period when most of the
irregularities and corrupt practices prevailed in the name of irrigation
development, tendering resignation. The Opposition parties also
cornered the Congress-NCP led Democratic Front Government in
Maharashtra. There was a round of political attack and counter-attack,
with names from the Opposition as well as the Government sides surfacing
in irrigation scam. Following immense pressure from all corners,
Maharashtra Government constituted SIT to probe into irrigation scam.
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