WRD asks Chief Engineers to give ‘no irregularity certificate’

* Also asks irrigation development corporations to fix accountability of officials concerned in cases of delay in completion of irrigation projects

By Kartik Lokhande 

Once bitten, twice shy. Water Resources Department (WRD) appears to be following this principle as far as the works of irrigation projects is concerned. After drawing flak for multi-crore ‘Irrigation Scam’ in the past couple of years, WRD has now asked Chief Engineers to issue ‘no irregularity’ certificate.
Deputy Secretary (WRD) S D Kulkarni has issued a communication to this effect to Executive Directors of various irrigation development corporations in the State, on August 7. As per the communication, Chief Engineers of various projects and establishments under irrigation development corporations have to submit a ‘no irregularity certificate’ to Executive Director of respective corporation. The said certificate should make it clear that all the Government norms have been followed while executing the work of respective project.
However, not many in the WRD have welcomed this. A senior officer said that this clause of ‘no irregularity certificate’ has been included to hold accountable the respective Chief Engineer if anything goes wrong about a project in future. “Once again, it is officials only who may be held responsible for following directions of political bosses, which are many times not issued in writing,” said another officer.
The latest communication of WRD also asks the Executive Directors of various irrigation development corporations to fix responsibility of officials concerned if there is delay in completion of an irrigation project. These clauses have been included in the communication about approval to execution of remaining work of 64 identified irrigation projects in the State which are nearing completion. The communication has been issued to Executive Directors of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation (MKVDC), Tapi Irrigation Development Corporation (TIDC), Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Development Corporation (GMIDC), and Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC).
These clauses have been introduced in the wake of recommendations of Special Inquiry Team (SIT) headed by eminent water expert Dr Madhavrao Chitaley into the multi-crore irrigation scam that had rocked the State and the country in the year 2012. The latest communication also asks the officers to approve expenditure after considering the recommendations of SIT regarding policy and project-level issues. Besides, the information regarding expenditure incurred, number of projects completed, creation of actual water storage, irrigation potential created etc has to be furnished to Funds Allocation Committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Planning).

Approval to exdpenditure to
complete 42 projects in Vid
Meanwhile, to curtail the delay in completion of 64 identified projects, WRD has asked the authorities concerned and VIDC, TIDC, MKVDC, GMIDC, and KIDC to ensure that these projects are completed as per the priority fixed. Of these, as many 42 projects are in Vidarbha region.
Work has been completed between 75 per cent and 90 per cent in case of at least 23 of these 64 projects. The estimates of many projects is under the process of upward revision due to cost escalation. However, it takes time to get the revised administrative approval for many projects. Till then, the work cannot be stopped. Hence, WRD has granted approval to completion of these projects by the time the revised administrative approval is received.
Of total 64 projects, as many as 42 are in Vidarbha region. These include a major project Bawanthadi, and five medium projects namely Wagholi Buti, Karajkheda, Kalpathri, Pothra Nala, Jhansinagar. The remaining of 42 Vidarbha projects are minor irrigation projects. These include Bhivgaon, Gogaon, Bahada, Chandsura, Kawranala, Paoni, Ranpisa, Dharpimpri, Gaiwal, Kasola, Koyali, Kinkhed, Parwakohar, Yewta, Bangaon, Digdoh, Wai storage tank, Bhimdi, Bor Nadi, Raigad Nadi, Samdasaudali, Shivangaon, Takli Kalann, Jhatamjhari, Popatkheda-2, Kuttardoh, Swasin, Lower Dnyanganga-2, Borkhedi, Dahegaon Gargoti, Jamnala, Mahagaon, Masrul, Vidrupa, Lakhmapur, and Bhuratola. 

(09-08-14)

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