File photo of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar
The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau has sought state government's permission to conduct an open enquiry against Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and state NCP Chief Sunil Tatkare following a complaint by an activist who has alleged corruption in 12 irrigation projects.
Besides the two top NCP leaders, social activist Pravin Wategaonkar has also sought inquiry against several public servants of Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC).
The complaint alleged there were irregularities in the manner in which contracts were awarded by the KIDC. The complainant has alleged that Mr Pawar and Mr Tatkare, during their stints as Water Resources Ministers, along with officials of the KIDC had allegedly favoured one group. Going against the rules, the projects were started without land acquisition, forest clearances and rehabilitation of the project affected persons, the complainant alleged. These acts of commission and omission led to delays and price escalation in most projects, he claimed.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has forwarded the complaint to the Maharashtra government as a sanction from the state's Home department is required to investigate ministers.
In June this year, the Maharashtra government had given a clean chit to Mr Pawar and Mr Tatkare in the irrigation scam after tabling the report of Madhav Chitale committee on the issue. The committee was appointed following the allegations that despite spending Rs. 70,000 crore, nothing much showed on the ground, while cost of irrigation projects escalated dramatically.
The Chitale committee report, like the white paper on irrigation in 2012, had rubbished the State Economic Survey Report's claim that there was only 0.1 per cent increase in the irrigation potential over the last ten years.
Mr Pawar had resigned from his post in 2012 following the allegations of corruption. After the publication of the white paper, he returned to the government.