Sources said Tatkare’s attempt at cover up to show the state has brought 42% land under irrigation through various small, medium and large projects was not acceptable to Chavan.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has completely rejected the water resources minister Sunil Tatkare’s white paper presentation on irrigation projects undertaken by the state in the last ten years.
Sources in Mantralaya said, “Tatkare’s attempt at cover up to show the state has brought 42% land under irrigation through various small, medium and large projects was not acceptable to Chavan.”
Chavan asked the minister to rework on the white paper. Incidentally, the state economic survey cites that the state irrigation potential has grown by only 0.1% in the last four years, while the total irrigation potential is 18%.
“Chavan wanted the ministry to specifically put on paper the date every single project was commissioned along with the cost, how long it took to complete the project or whether it remained incomplete, and cost overruns,” sources said.
A senior secretary in the department of water resources revealed, “A clinical assessment on every irrigation project which has led to inordinate delay and massive cost escalation is not impossible to outline. But if we admit the lapses, the government will have to own up the responsibilities.”
The state has allocated Rs70,000 crore for 15,000 irrigation projects in the last ten years. Of these, there are at least 50 megaprojects which have been languishing for the past three decades due to the paucity of funds.
“The issue of misuse of funds in irrigation projects is being blown out of proportion. The state irrigation potential has grown to 42% because of the massive work undertaken through irrigation projects,” said Tatkare.
Another senior officer in the ministry said: “The delay in getting clearances from various departments has also resulted in delaying the completion of irrigation projects in Vidarbha and Marathwada.”
Citing an example, a former finance minister said, “A mega project in western Maharashtra required Rs100 crore almost ten years ago. I was of the opinion that we should make massive investments and complete the work. However, political pressure led to part allocations. Today, even after spending Rs300 crore, the work is still incomplete. It does not benefit the farmers to irrigate the fields.”
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