Maharashtra to scrap 94 tenders in 14 irrigation projects

Maharashtra government today decided to scrap 94 tenders in 14 irrigation projects which are under the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) scanner.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here.

The move is considered a setback for NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who was Water Resources Minister between 1999 and 2009, and had approved projects worth Rs 20,000 crore, allegedly by tweaking rules and without clearance of Governing Council of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC).

The tenders were scrapped as they are under investigation by the state's ACB, a CMO official said. Earlier this month, the ACB had filed a chargesheet against 10 people in connection with the Balganga irrigation scam, before a district court in Thane.

The ACB slapped various sections of IPC for cheating and fraud besides the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against the accused.

Though the chargesheet did not name Pawar, it had sought further permission to investigate the deals which directly involved him.

The state Cabinet also decided to accord revised sanction for the Gosi-Khurd irrigation project in Vidarbha.

The cost of this project is now pegged at Rs 18,494 crore.