Government names committee that will probe irrigation projects

Following the Bombay high court’s (HC) orders on a PIL about irregularities in irrigation projects, the water resources department has appointed a committee to look into 48 projects that have not started so far. The department has also decided the scope of the committee headed by chief engineer of Hydro Project, R.V. Panse. The committee has been given three months to submit their report.

In a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the water resources department on February 10, the four-member committee was appointed to probe irrigation projects sanctioned in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

The committee has been constituted by A.S. Nanavare, chief engineer of state, Water Resources Development Centre, Aurangabad; and Khalil Ansari, chief engineer of water resources department, Konkan as members and C.N. Mali, superintendent engineer from Nashik as member secretary, the GR said.

The PIL was filed by activist Pradip Purandare before the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay HC on which, direction to appoint the committee was given in December 2015. Taking immediate cognisance of the order, the committee was appointed on Wednesday.

The committee is expected to look into irregularities in projects sanctioned a few years ago and submit a report on the same. It is supposed to check if construction of the project has started or not. The committee has been asked to submit hydrological, environmental and economical parameters. It will also inquire in detail if the contractor has been made indiscriminate payments. The committee has been given rights to inquire with officers in connection with the projects and inform the government in case of irregularities, the GR said.