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In poll season, key irrigation data dry up in economic survey

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The Economic Survey Report for 2013-14 may have provided a positive outlook for Maharashtra on several fronts, but the document is bereft of crucial details pertaining to the irrigation scene in the state.

By end of 2012, the total irrigation potential created was 49.26 lakh hectares, says the report. But it is silent on the time period. While the government has claimed that major, medium and minor projects covered 27.19 lakh, 8.67 lakh and 13.40 hectares respectively, there is no mention of the cost of these projects.

An irrigation scam had rocked the state in 2012 when it emerged that the state had seen an increase of 0.1 per cent in irrigation even after spending nearly Rs70,000 crore. Apparently, the Congress, mainly Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, had used this to corner its alliance partner NCP. This had led to resignation of Ajit Pawar from the post of deputy chief minister as most of the allocation was made during his tenure as the water resources minister.

Vijay Pandhare, ex-irrigation officer and whistle-blower in the alleged scam told dna that the government has deliberately withheld key info in the survey document to avoid the further controversy ahead of the assembly election, scheduled for October.

He said a special investigation team led by Madhav Chitale had been formed to probe the irrigation scam. Despite submission of its report by the Chitale Committee, it is yet to be made public.

Sources said the Congress-NCP alliance is desperate to keep bad press at bay in an election year, especially after its dismal performance in the Lok Sabha elections. "There is a huge anti-incumbency wave in the state.The coalition could win only six of the 48 Lok Sabha seats. To salvage the situation, the irrigation department headed by Sunil Tatkare of the NCP did not submit its status report," said a political observer.

On the eve of the budget, the Economic Survey is presented. It helps to see the progress of the state with regard to all indices and the comparative rise in the area under irrigation is a key indication of progress.

Moreover, as per the latest survey, the area under cereals and pulses have decreased by one per cent and four per cent respectively while the land under oil seeds increased as compared to the previous year, apparently due to a substantial rise in soybean plantation. Sugarcane plantation is also likely to decrease by three per cent in 2014 as compared to 2013.

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