Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) Maharashtra government approved 307 irrigation projects with cost escalations of Rs 39,104 crore in the last three years, information gathered under RTI revealed. The BJP, when in opposition, had slammed the Congress-NCP regime for approving cost escalations for irrigation projects. The BJP-led government’s approvals has been questioned by the opposition parties. However, the BJP has defended its decision, saying that escalation was due to the change in land compensation and other factors.
The RTI information sought by The Asian Age, showed that since October 8, 2015, the government approved various small, medium and large irrigation projects with the cost escalations. On October 8, 2015, 262 projects were approved worth Rs 3,728 crore.
On September 21, 2016, the long-pending Gosikhurd project from Vidarbha region was given third revised cost escalation of Rs 18,494 crore. In July 2017, the government approved to a hiked cost of Rs 82 crore for Sangli lift irrigation project pushing its to Rs 4,959 crore.
Also, the 26 projects under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) programme of the earlier UPA government were costing Rs 20,000 crore. When the scheme changed after the BJP-led government took over in 2014, the projects were converted to Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and cost went up to Rs 32,000 crore. For the cost escalation of Rs 12,000 crore, the state government has sought a loan from NABARD.
Defending the cost escalation, water resources minister Girish Mahajan said that several factors have contributed to it. “The Congress-NCP government did not give approvals to the revised cost escalation of the project for 7-8 years. We approved about 250 projects in last two and half years. It was obvious that the cost of the projects has gone up. Also, with a change in the land acquisition act, the compensation rate has gone up. But we have brought the highest 40 lakh ha land under the irrigation for the first time in Maharashtra,” Mahajan told The Asian Age.
However, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik has asked Mr Fadnvis to explain the cost escalation of the projects. “Fadnavis when in opposition had created a hue and cry over the cost escalation and had termed it as corruption. Why his government has now approved the projects with a hiked cost? He should explain now,” Mr Malik said.
