Govt may review 189 irrigation projects cleared by Ajit Pawar

These projects were approved during the Congress-NCP dispensation. The Water Resources department was held by NCP leader Ajit Pawar between 2004 to 2012, after which, Sunil Tatkare held it till 2014. A majority of the projects were cleared during Pawar’s tenure.

The interim order of the court pronounced last week, said, “Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority as well as the state government is directed to place before the court details in respect of projects sanctioned, such as date on which the tenders have been finalised, the date of issuance of work order, necessary details in respect of decision making process of the concerned work.”

The details will have to be furnished by the next hearing on August 10.

The state has been told by the bench not to grant any administrative approval in respect of any new project until the IWSDP is finalised and to follow procedures laid down under the Maharashtra Water Resource Regulatory Authority Act 2005.

Under Section 11 of the Act, while clearing new water resource projects the authority has to ensure that the Governor’s directives issued on investment priority for removal of regional imbalances are strictly observed.

Under the statutory development board, the Governor plays a significant role in determining allocation of funds for the irrigation projects in the backward regions of Vidarbha, Marathwada and rest of Maharashtra.

The government, in an affidavit to the court, said that no administrative approval would be accorded to the water projects in the state outside the scope of the ISWDP.

The affidavit presented to the court by Suresh Kulkari, secretary Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority, said, “An inter departmental meeting was convened on April 25, 2007 under the chairmanship of minister of water resources to discuss the issues relating to the duties and functions. I submit that as per the decisions reached in the said meeting it was required to grant clearance to the projects prior to administrative approval as the integrated state water plan was to take some time.”

A senior NCP leader said, “The Special Investigation Team lead by Madhav Chitale has already probed the matter and given its report. None of our ministers have been held guilty. The charges of alleged irregularities are baseless.”