Irrigation devpt corporations re-empowered to grant revised administrative approvals

 

Staff Reporter 

Government of Maharashtra has restored the powers of irrigation development corporations (IDCs) to grant revised administrative approvals at their levels. The step has been taken to achieve decentralisation of powers, as far as IDCs of Vidarbha, Godavari-Marathwada, Krishna Valley, and Tapi (Jalgaon) areas. 
In the year 2003, Water Resources Department (WRD) had empowered the IDCs to decide on revised administrative approvals for various irrigation projects under their jurisdictions. However, after review, the powers were revoked. Currently, the IDCs did not have powers to grant administrative approvals or revised administrative approvals. WRD has powers to grant administrative approvals up to Rs 5 crore in cases of minor irrigation projects. The approvals to proposals that involve cost above Rs 5 crore are to be cleared by Finance Department and Planning Department, and if required, committee on expenditure priorities. 
The powers of IDCs to grant revised administrative approvals were revoked following the multi-crore irrigation scam that had snowballed into a major political controversy in the year 2012. The powers were revoked as it had come to fore that in many cases, between 2006 and 2009, administrative approvals and revised administrative approvals were granted at the level of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) and other IDCs. In cases that involved cost escalation beyond a certain limit, some of the officers working then had by-passed the committees and got those approved from the then Water Resources Minister, who is ex-officio Chairman of IDCs. 
Now, the new Government in the State under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has started taking several steps to streamline functioning of especially WRD and IDCs, and decentralise the powers. In accordance with these objectives, and the directives of the Governor of Maharashtra issued on March 10 this year, WRD has issued a Government Resolution (GR) on Wednesday, restoring powers of IDCs to grant revised administrative approvals. The GR also lays down certain guidelines. These require the respective IDCs to prepare proposals for revised administrative approval to a project ‘in accordance with the circulars issued in this regard from time to time’. 
First, the IDCs will have to send their proposals for revised administrative approvals to State Technical Advisory Committee for scrutiny. The committee will conduct technical scrutiny and then submit a clearance report to respective IDC. If the committee suggests some changes, IDC concerned should make those and submit a revised proposal to Governing Board for IDCs. The powers to effect amendments to the paramters of technical scrutiny will be vested with the Governing Board. As per the latest guidelines, Governing Board may decide to submit certain proposals before the Cabinet for revised administrative approval. The GR specifies that the responsibility for decision taken while implementing a project, will be on officers taking those decisions. 

(09-09-15) 

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