A special investigation team (SIT) headed by water expert Madhav Chitale will probe Maharashtra’s multi-crore irrigation scam, Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare said in the Legislative Council on Monday in Nagpur.
“We have considered all aspects of the situation and decided to appointed an SIT to inquire into the matter,” Tatkare told reporters. Members of the SIT, the time frame of the probe and other issues would be announced before December 31, he said.
With this move, the government has set to rest speculation that a judicial commission would be set up to probe the irrigation scam.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which was reluctant for a SIT probe, gave in after it was practically isolated on the issue. The Shiv Sena, BJP and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena were adamant that a SIT probe be ordered. NCP’s partner in the state, the Congress, has been silent on the issue.
Leader of Opposition in the Council Vinod Tawade welcomed the announcement. “From day one, when the White Paper (on the irrigation scam) was presented by the state government, I have maintained that it was a whitewash, and demanded an SIT probe.” He had demanded that the SIT be headed by a respected technocrat like Chitale so that all aspects of the alleged scam could be exposed.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar held the water portfolio between 1999 and 2009, when the scam was said to have occurred. The issue pertains to various irregularities which led to cost and time overrun. In the case of 38 irrigation projects, especially in the underdeveloped Vidarbha region, an unholy nexus between politicians, contractors and irrigation department officials was alleged.
The opposition's demand for a SIT probe had paralysed the proceedings of the legislature last week. The NCP had claimed that the White Paper, released by the government on November 29, and the subsequent two documents released by it clearly show that irrigation potential rose by 5.17 per cent and not by 0.1 per cent, as observed by the Economic Survey.
The White Paper also gave a clean chit to Pawar who had resigned on September 25 following the irrigation scam expose. He rejoined the Cabinet on December 7. Meanwhile, Eknath Khadse, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, demanded that Pawar step down as deputy chief minister till the Chitale committee completes the inquiry. He said there was every possibility of Pawar interfering in the functioning of the committee.
