The ruling Nationalist Congress Party controlled water resources department in Maharshtra has said the irrigation potential has risen to 47.50 lakh hectare in 2010 from 37 lakh hectare in 2001, an increase of 28%. Further, the rise in irrigated area has been a record 72% to 29 lakh hectare from 17.50 lakh hectare during the same period.
The department has made these observations in the much debated white paper on the Maharashtra’s irrigation sector as announced by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. The state cabinet is expected to take up the white paper for discussion at its meeting slated for Thursday. If approved by the cabinet it would be later tabled in the state legislature for discussion during the ensuing winter session starting from December 10.
However, the government has yet to complete the inquiry constituted against 45 officials of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation for alleged irregularities in the implementation of 38 projects.
Chavan’s announcement in May on the government’s intent to bring out a white paper was based on the Economic Survey ’s observation that though Rs 70,000 crore has been spent on various projects in the last decade, the state’s irrigation potential has increased only 0.1%. This had been countered by NCP which has argued that the rise has been much more. Following Economic Survey’s observation the Maharashtra’s irrigation scam came into light and subsequently the NCP leader Ajit Pawar resigned as the state deputy chief minister in September. However, the government has yet to complete inquiry against 45 officials of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation for alleged irregularities in the implementation of 38 projects.
A senior state government official, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard “The irrigation ratio has been increased by 5.17%. This will further rise by 1% if one includes 70 TMC (thousand cubic meter) of water currently provided for domestic and industry use. It must be mentioned here that the Chitale Committee in its report in 2001 had indicated that state will be able to irrigate maximum of 85 lakh hectare of the total 226 lakh hectare under cultivation.” The official contradicted the Economic Survey’s observation that there was a paltry 0.1% rise in irrigation potential during 2001 and 2010.
On November 22, the state government filed an affidavit in the Bombay high court claiming the white paper will be brought out within three weeks.
The water resources department has also strongly refuted allegations with regard to irregularities and scam during the implementation of 38 irrigation projects especially in the Vidarbha region. The white paper has listed the project wise reasons for the cost escalation and time overrun. “The rise has been mainly on account of rise in the input costs, delays in the land acquisition, forest clearance and implementation of rehabilitation projects. The department schedule of rate (DSR) in these 38 irrigation projects in Vidarbha region and other projects in rest of Maharashtra has been quite low in comparision with DSR of projects implemented in other states and also by state-run Mumbai metropolitan Region Development Authority, Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, state Public Works Department and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation,” the official informed.
The official argued that there are 69 major and medium irrigation projects and 186 small projects being implemented in Maharashtra under the Centre’s Accelerated Irrigation Development Programme. “The rise in cost of these projects has been approved by the Central Water Commission and the investment clearance was subsequently accorded by the Planning Commission. There is no truth in irregularities,” the official noted.
On the rise of cost of the Gosikhurd irrigation project to Rs 7,777 crore from Rs 327 crore in 1982, the official said this was due to increase in cost following delays in land acquisition, forest clearance and rehabilitation. “Against the 40 TMC water, the storage in the Gosikhurd has been mere 8 TMC while rest has to be discharged as the villagers have yet to accept the rehabilitation package and vacate their lands,” he added.
Ajit Pawar may rejoin state cabinet
The state water resources department’s move to project a 28% rise in irrigation potential and 72% in land under irrigation in the white paper may pave way for former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s re-entry into the state cabinet. Besides, the water resources department’s move to refute charges of irregularities and multi crore scam will support Ajit Pawar’s argument in this regard. This will also be an attempt to provide the present status and not an investigation as clarified by the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.
The water resources department has also clarified that the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation was delegated administrative powers in 2003 following the state Governor’s directives and therefore there was no involvement of Ajit Pawar in this regard. However, these powers were withdrawn in 2009 after the government delcared that there was no physical backlog in the underdeveloped Vidarbha region.
NCP leader, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard “Ajit Pawar’s reinduction into the state cabinet is quite certain. The time will be decided by NCP chief Sharad Pawar and the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.”
