MUMBAI, APRIL 5: Eminent social worker and a pioneer in the field of wasteland development Mohan Dharia has sought the immediate dismissal of the Chairman of the Water Conservation Council Chairman, Sudhakarrao Naik, for exceeding his brief. "I have urged Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to immediately sack him if he does not resign on his own," Dharia said while speaking to The Indian Express. A former Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission and founder of Vanrai, a Pune-based organisation working in the field of wasteland development, Dharia said the former Chief Minister exceeded his brief while commenting on the performance of the organisations working in the field of wasteland development and water conservation in Pune and Thane. Naik had alleged that there were large scale irregularities and misuse of funds by such organisations. He had directed that grants being given to these institutions be stopped forthwith until further orders. "At a high level meeting, Naik asked the officials of the Rural Development Department as well as Water Conservation Department to immediately stop grants released to the organisations working in the areas of wasteland development and water conservation. I feel that it was beyond the powers of Naik to issue such an order, since he is heading an advisory body without any statutory powers," Dharia said. "It is unfortunate that a politician of the stature of Naik, who was also the Chief Minister, is not familiar with water conservation and wasteland development programmes implemented through voluntary and social organisations," Dharia bemoaned.Dharia said that the organisations are selected by the government after following laid down procedure. Members of the selected organisations are trained in techniques for water conservation and watershed development in an identified village. A village council is formed to oversee the action plan. "Once the basic formalities are completed, a joint account is opened in the names of the President and Secretary of the Village Council and a representative of the voluntary organisation. The funds received for the programme are deposited in this account, not in the name of the council or the organisation. Five per cent of the total grant is reserved for the village and an equal amount is paid to the voluntary organisation for administrative expenses," Dharia said.The government allocates Rs 20 lakh for every 500 hectares (@ Rs 4000 per hectare) to be utilised in five years. "Generally, an organisation spends Rs five lakh every year out of which Rs 25,000 goes towards administrative expenses. This amount is inadequate to meet even basic expenses, such as honorarium for the village social worker and his assistant," Dharia added. Launching a frontal attack on Naik, Dharia said the former CM has made baseless and false allegations against voluntary organisations without ascertaining facts and figures vis-a-vis the grants released by the state government.He has taken strong objection to the very appointment of Naik saying it was a political appointment. "On January 10, the government appointed him Chairman of the Water Conservation Council and gave him a cabinet rank. The government order also states that more members would be appointed to the council in due course," he said. Dharia has questioned the propriety of a council when a state level integrated mission for wasteland development already exists since October 1, 1999.However, the Chief Minister's reaction to Naik's statements have not given Dharia any reason to celebrate. "Deshmukh has declined to intervene on the ground that both (myself) and Naik are big shots. I can understand that, but what is not acceptable is his suggestion of a new law to keep a check on such voluntary organisations. In fact, the government has full control over the organisations since unless the latter are registered under the Society Registration Act, they are not entitled for grants under the (state government's) programme," Dharia added.
