Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde today alleged that the state government was favouring contractors under the guise of its flaghip 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme.
"There are indiscrepancies in the implementation of the 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme. In the last two years, works that have been undertaken are only favouring contractors," he said.
Munde was responding to a motion moved by BJP MLC Sujitsinh Thakur praising the government's initiative.
He said that in the last two years, contracts for river deepening and widening have been awarded.
"Maharashtra witnessed good rains last year and so there was no water shortage. We cannot give credit for this to the government," he said.
He further said that many experts have expressed doubts about the 'Jalyukt Shivar' scheme and the Bombay High Court, acting upon a PIL filed, had directed the state government to set up an experts committee to enquire into the works undertaken under this scheme.
"The government is aware that the committee, if set up, will only find corruption in the implementation of the project. Hence the government did not act upon the Court's directions," Munde alleged.
He also criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for not getting a full-time secretary for this department.
Munde said that during the Congress-NCP regime, a budgetary provision of 7.5 per cent used to be made for irrigation projects, however, this government has reduced it to a mere 4.2 per cent.
"For the Krishna-Marathwada project, the government had announced a package of Rs 4,000 crore but in reality made a provision of only Rs 250 crore and cheated the people of Marathwada," Munde alleged.
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