Irrigation scam: No favouritism in awarding tenders, says govt

Terming as "baseless" the allegations of connivance among Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Konkan Region Water Resources Department officials and private firm F A Construction, Maharashtra government today said there was no favouritism shown while awarding tenders.
An affidavit was today filed by Pralhad Sonawane, Chief Engineer Konkan Region Water Resources Department, in the Bombay High Court in reply to an affidavit filed by social activist Pravin Wategaonkar seeking CBI inquiry against Pawar, the then Water Resources Minister and officials of the erstwhile Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation
Wategaonkar had in his affidavit filed on August 1 alleged that the procedures adopted with regard to Jamda and Balganga projects of KIDC indicate that sanctioning of contractor claims, award of contracts and cost escalations were vitiated due to arbitrariness, nepotism, malafides, loss to the exchequer and corruption.

Wategaonkar filed his affidavit in a PIL last year into the irrigation scam.
The affidavit alleged the then Maharashtra Water Resources Development Minister Ajit Pawar appeared to be complicit along with erstwhile KIDC officials and contractor FA Constructions.
The government in its reply today denied the allegations. "On part of KIDC it is compulsory to allot a tender to the lowest bidder. Hence question of any favour in awarding contract does not arise. For every tender invited, there is a Tender Evaluation Committee comprising high ranking officers from across Maharashtra which recommends the eligibility of the contract," the affidavit stated.

It added that tenders awarded to F A Enterprises and F A Constructions are as per the standard procedures.
The matter is likely to come up for hearing tomorrow before a bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and S B Shukre.