'CBI must probe irrigation scam'

Opposition has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged misappropriation of funds allotted for irrigation projects in the last ten years. The government, however, rubbished the claim saying that the percentage of the land under irrigation increased sizably in this period.

Leader of opposition in the state assembly, Eknath Khadse said that despite spending more than Rs73,000 crore the last decade, the percentage of land under irrigation has risen only by 0.1%. He claimed that the government had been implementing big irrigation projects despite lack of adequate financial allocation for the same.

Khadse added that the charges against the water resources minister Sunil Tatkare for amassing disproportionate property have links with the variations amounts stated in the tenders of irrigation projects. Terming the charges  as ‘politically motivated’, Tatkare rubbished the claims and announced the white paper on the status of irrigation will be presented in the winter session.  

“The figures disseminated by the agriculture and water resources departments vary, but the rise in the land under irrigation is 5.17% for sure. This area against the area with the capacity to be irrigated has increased by 12.47 hectare in the last ten years,” he said.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said the state’s financial condition  was sound despite increasing debt over the last few years.

“As per norm, a state can borrow only less than 26% of its GDP. Ours is 18.8%. The opposition has been targeting us for spending 63% of the revenue receipts on the wages and pensions, but it was 85% during the Sena-BJP regime,” he said.