The picture of the irrigation scam in Maharashtra is getting dirtier as it also has increased the tension between the Congress and its ally Nationalist Congress Party.

The media has recently revealed that the 38 projects that were set up in Vidharbha were initially provided with a funding of Rs 6,672 crores but they were suddenly raised to Rs 26,722 crores by the  Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation. This whopping increase in the funding of over times amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crores was approved in extremely short duration of only three months. VIDC has justified its actions by saying that the escalation in the funds was due to the increased prices, demands from contractors and land acquisitions among many other reasons which were far below satisfactory. Government circles have begun to express their skepticism in regard to the bulk approval in a short period of time.

Unusually cases where grants were approved on National Holidays were also seen such as the Lower Wardha Project which received approval on August 15th. The project had been escalated from Rs 9 50 to Rs 2356 by the executive director of VIDC then. The Upper Wardha projects cost were hiked to Rs 1376 crores from Rs 66 crores in July.

10 projects were prices were revised on one single day 14 August 2009. Bembala river project received Rs 2176 crores as opposed to the initial price of Rs 1,278.  On June 24, 2009, VIDC issued 10 revised administrative approvals for Vaisawali, Lonwadi, Dagadparwa and Dava minor irrigation schemes, and larger projects such as Human Nadi, Kharbadi K T Weir, Jigaon, Khadak Purna, Pentakali and Chandrabhaga.

The executive director Devendra Shirke had approved all these projects.

(AW- Anil)