Irrigation scam: Chavan

The inquiry is likely to create more problems for former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar,who in his role as irrigation minister was ex-officio chairman of VIDC.

Chavan confirmed to reporters in Thane a probe had been approved. He denied delay in ordering the departmental inquiry. “The government had to conduct its own inquiry before arriving at the conclusion of ordering a probe. This process takes time,” CM said.

VIDC has been under the scanner for rampant corruption and arbitrary escalation of costs to benefit private contractors.

Nearly all the engineers,including former executive director Devendra Shirke,against whom the inquiry has been ordered were associated with the contorversial Gosikhurd project.

Planned in 1982,cost of the project increased from Rs 332 crore to Rs 7,777 crore in 2008. Its persent cost is supposed to be in the range of Rs 13,000 crore.

The Gosikhurd dam was expected to irrigate 2.50 lakh hectares,but its potential has not gone beyond 40,000 hectares.

Project officers have been accused of hiking costs of nearly 90 of the 195 tenders violating government rules and regulations.

They have been accused of providing mobilisation advances to contractors. CAG had claimed in its report on VIDC that contractors were being unduly favoured.

The state government appointed two committes to probe the allegations. The one under retired principal secretary Nandkumar Vadnere submitted a report on financial irregularities in VIDC,while the other,appointed in February 2010,headed by then chief engineer H.T Mendigiri probed cracks in the lining of the main canal.

However,no action was initiated against any of the officers.