PAC asks for report of works completed under Jalyukta Shivar

The public accounts committee (PAC) of the Maharashtra government has asked for a detailed report of works completed under the Jalyukta Shivar project, the water conservation scheme to make the state drought free by 2019.
The PAC in its report tabled today in the state assembly has made some recommendations and also sought detailed information from the Water Resources Department.
The committee in its report said Jalyukta Shivar programme was introduced two years back and several works are going on across the state for water conservation.
The machines of water resources department are widely used for this work, which has affected the routine works of the department.

The committee while asking for the details of the work has cited a divisional secretary's statement that in 2015-16, all the machines of water resources department were used for completion of works of Jalyukta Shivar.
This could affect the routine works of water resources department; hence the state government should provide all the details of the works as well as planning of the department on effective use of machines -- within next three months to the PAC, stated the committee report.

The works under Jalyukta Shivar are technically carried out by Water Conservation ministry headed by Ram Shinde, whereas the machines are the property of Water Resources ministry headed by Girish Mahajan.

The committee has also made an observation that details of the logbook in the water resources department since 2007-08 are not yet provided; irrespective of assurance made by the department itself to the committee.
"The committee is of the opinion that lot of malpractices take place with the utilisation of machinery with the department. These malpratices are also the reason behind department officials not providing details of the logbook," the report said.
The committee further recommended that a senior official from outside the department should be appointed to carry out inquiry in this matter and initiate action against those found guilty.

The committee has also asked for submission of this report in three months and action-taken report in next one month; once first report is submitted to the PAC.