Maharashtra scraps 94 tenders of 14 irrigation projects under ACB probe

Empowers state water resources department to issue fresh bids on merit

The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday decided to scrap 94 tenders of 14 irrigation projects worth Rs 6,000 crore, citing irregularities, where the anti corruption bureau (ACB) has already launched probe. The tenders, which were issued during the previous Congress-NCP government, will be cancelled after completing all legal formalities.

The state cabinet, chaired by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, has empowered the water resources department to float fresh tenders project-wise on merit in order to complete these projects in a time-bound manner. Of the 94 tenders, as high as 81 were floated for the Gosikhurd project in Vidarbha, 12 in the Konkan region and one in Nashik district.

The state government had earlier scrapped nearly 128 irrigation projects with collective budget of Rs 624.28 crore, sanctioned by the previous Congress-NCP government in the last four months of its tenure. During the 15 year Congress-NCP rule, NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare had held the water resources department.

According to the release issued by the chief minister's office, irregularities were cited by a high level committee in tenders issued for the Gosikhurd project which has been languishing for the last 32 years. The cost of the project was revised to Rs 5,600 crore in 2007 and now it has surged to Rs 18,472 crore. The tenders will be cancelled as per the provisions of Indian Contract Act, 1972.

In case of 12 tenders issued for irrigation projects in the Konkan region, the land acquisition has not be completed so also rehabilitation. This apart, the forest land has yet to be handed over for the project development.