Gujarat 145;speaks up146; on Sujalam controversy

With its back to the wall over allegations of corruption in the Sujalam Sufalam scheme and not tabling the PAC report, the state Government has for the first time broken its silence by publishing a 7-page cover story on the scheme in its fortnightly magazine Gujarat. The article takes explains the scheme.

The article praises Chief Minister Narendra Modi for his farsightedness and 8220;unprecedented8221; decision to commission the scheme but stops short of addressing or countering allegations. Instead, as a reply to all the questions being raised, there is an analysis of the scheme8217;s feasibility reports, why the scheme is important, how it benefits the parched villages of north Gujarat, and a two-page report on the amount of work done on the canals, the quantity of earth moved in million cubic metres.

The article does not have a single line on how much have been spent on this and the views of the Public Accounts Committee. While it is claimed that the scheme will bring an end to people8217;s plight in getting water in command areas of 2.16 lakh hectares through the rising line of Narmada canal, the extension of the command area will depend on availability of water from spreading canal and pipelines.