 "Maharashtra government extends SIT probe on irrigation scam")
The Maharashtra government has given a six-month extension, up to December 31, to the special investigation team (SIT) headed by water expert Madhav Chitale to complete its ongoing probe into the multi-crore irrigation scam.
The SIT was formed on December 31 last year and its term was ending on June 30. A senior minister close to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told Business Standard: “The government issued the necessary notification in this regard on June 29. The extension was necessitated as the SIT has yet to complete the investigation.”
The government had set up the SIT following the repeated disruption of the legislature during its winter session last year. Incidentally, the SIT lacks summoning powers under the Commission of Inquiry Act. The SIT is inquiring into the cost escalation of 38 irrigation projects being implemented by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) within a span of seven months in 2009 by a whopping Rs 20,050 crore, to Rs 26,722 crore from Rs 6,672 crore. Thirty of the 38 projects were granted hurried approvals in four days, including 11 projects on August 14, 2009, 10 on June 2009, five on July 7, 2009 and four on August 18, 2009.
In the terms of reference, the SIT has been asked to fix the responsibility for irregularities if found during investigations and suggest actions against those concerned.
Opposition parties have lashed out at the state government for showing secrecy in giving extension to the SIT.
Eknath Khadse, of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, slammed the state government, saying this was a further attempt of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government to protect the corrupt. “Prithviraj Chavan, who makes tall claims of being transparent and clean, has taken the decision under pressure from alliance partner NCP,” said Khadse.
Adding his party would seek an explanation from Chavan in the ensuing monsoon session of the state legislature starting July 15.
Maharashtra Navniman Sena's group leader in the state assembly Bala Nandgaonkar targeted the chief minister too. He alleged the government's move has raised serious doubts on the credibility of the chief minister. “In any case, people and political parties do not have faith in the SIT, which is merely a study group. What is the use of Chavan being ‘Mr Clean’ when he is surrounded by the corrupt? Our party will raise the issue during the coming monsoon session of the legislature,” he said.
The state government's decision comes at a time when the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court is expected to resume hearing from next week on a petition filed a non-governmental organisation Janmanch against the irrigation scam. The high court, at its last hearing held on April 25, rejected the plea made by VIDC to dismiss the petition.
Janmanch president Anil Kilor hoped the high court would restart hearing on their petition from July 3. “The state government is not keen to complete the inquiry into the irrigation scam by the SIT as it is not even providing necessary infrastructure and records to the SIT. But, we will fight our case in court,” he said.
The SIT was formed on December 31 last year and its term was ending on June 30. A senior minister close to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told Business Standard: “The government issued the necessary notification in this regard on June 29. The extension was necessitated as the SIT has yet to complete the investigation.”
The government had set up the SIT following the repeated disruption of the legislature during its winter session last year. Incidentally, the SIT lacks summoning powers under the Commission of Inquiry Act. The SIT is inquiring into the cost escalation of 38 irrigation projects being implemented by the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) within a span of seven months in 2009 by a whopping Rs 20,050 crore, to Rs 26,722 crore from Rs 6,672 crore. Thirty of the 38 projects were granted hurried approvals in four days, including 11 projects on August 14, 2009, 10 on June 2009, five on July 7, 2009 and four on August 18, 2009.
In the terms of reference, the SIT has been asked to fix the responsibility for irregularities if found during investigations and suggest actions against those concerned.
Opposition parties have lashed out at the state government for showing secrecy in giving extension to the SIT.
Eknath Khadse, of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, slammed the state government, saying this was a further attempt of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government to protect the corrupt. “Prithviraj Chavan, who makes tall claims of being transparent and clean, has taken the decision under pressure from alliance partner NCP,” said Khadse.
Adding his party would seek an explanation from Chavan in the ensuing monsoon session of the state legislature starting July 15.
Maharashtra Navniman Sena's group leader in the state assembly Bala Nandgaonkar targeted the chief minister too. He alleged the government's move has raised serious doubts on the credibility of the chief minister. “In any case, people and political parties do not have faith in the SIT, which is merely a study group. What is the use of Chavan being ‘Mr Clean’ when he is surrounded by the corrupt? Our party will raise the issue during the coming monsoon session of the legislature,” he said.
The state government's decision comes at a time when the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court is expected to resume hearing from next week on a petition filed a non-governmental organisation Janmanch against the irrigation scam. The high court, at its last hearing held on April 25, rejected the plea made by VIDC to dismiss the petition.
Janmanch president Anil Kilor hoped the high court would restart hearing on their petition from July 3. “The state government is not keen to complete the inquiry into the irrigation scam by the SIT as it is not even providing necessary infrastructure and records to the SIT. But, we will fight our case in court,” he said.