Pawar Sr Wanted Judicial Probe, CM A Shorter Deadline
Water resources minister Sunil Tatkare on Monday said the special investigation team (SIT) that will probe the alleged irrigation scam “will certainly go beyond what the white paper (on state irrigation projects) established. But how much and how far is something yet to be decided”.
The announcement of the probe in the legislative assembly followed hectic backchannel negotiations between chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. Sources said the two were in constant touch since Friday night, trying to shape an agreeable solution for the opposition as well as Pawar’s nephew and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who has been at the centre of the irrigation scam row.
Sharad Pawar, sources said, wanted a judicial probe, while Ajit Pawar insisted on an SIT headed by a former civil servant. A judicial probe would have “meant an open invitation for anyone to file an affidavit with a complaint or allegation. Moreover, it would have dragged on at its own pace,” explained a senior NCP functionary. So, for Ajit Pawar, an SIT was considered preferable.
Meanwhile, Chavan sought a three month deadline for the probe, but Ajit Pawar was adamant on a six-month time limit. “Ajit felt that by appointing an SIT and a head of his choice, it would be easier to stay away from the judiciary,” said a senior minister.
The parleys between the parties crested on Monday, with a long closeddoor meeting attended by Chavan, Ajit Pawar and Tatkare. The coalition partners agreed that an announcement must be made before the courts take notice of the issue. Public interest litigations in the matter are likely to come up before the judiciary soon. “The government was of the opinion that someone must break the ice and end the deadlock in the assembly. What has happened over the last week (disorder in the two Houses of the legislature) has hurt our image,” said a top Congress minister.
Though at this point an SIT seems like an eyewash, given that it is unlikely to receive any powers to take punitive or other action, the opposition is hoping the judiciary will take note of the investigation. “If the judiciary decides to monitor the SIT at the behest of the petitioners, it could still spell trouble for Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare,” said a BJP leader.
While welcoming the government decision to set up an SIT, several opposition leaders demanded that either Ajit Pawar resign from the deputy CM’s post or be denied other portfolios. “For the sake of a fair probe, I request the chief minister to not give any portfolios to Ajit Pawar until it is over,” said leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse.
Courtesy:
Sharad Vyas | TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/12/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML
SITUATION NOW ON IRRIGATION SCAM
IN EXPERT HANDS
Madhavrao Chitale, the SIT chief, has served as secretary, Union ministry of water resources, and chairman of the Central Water Commission, besides heading other panels on irrigation. He’s considered an expert on the subject. “Every year the irrigation department publishes a status report. I feel it’s obvious for the state to provide water from irrigation schemes to industries and urban areas,” he said. Sharad Pawar had defended Ajit Pawar on similar lines. Even before the panel has been finalized, activist Medha Patkar’s group criticized Chitale’s appointment. “It would have been appropriate to have a retired judge as SIT head,” said Patkar’s aide Suniti Su Ra.
POWER POINTS GOVT-ORDERED SIT VS COURT-APPOINTED SIT
Both discharge similar functions, but the first will file a report to the govt and the second to the judiciary
A court-appointed SIT has a high degree of credibility as its investigations are monitored by the court and it is unlikely to come under any pressure. In the past, court-appointed SITs have been able to book high-ranking state officials and police officers
One of the best examples is the Bombay HC-appointed SIT headed by retired director-general of police SS Puri that probed the multi-crore Telgi fake stamp paper scam in 2003. It went on to arrest top IPS officers and politicians
The govt, in case the report is not to its taste, can put it away in cold storage or even reject it
Much of an SIT’s efficacy depends on its terms and references, yet to be announced for the irrigation probe. Also crucial is whether the investigation team will comprise a police officer, who can register a criminal complaint and arrest the accused
In the irrigation scam, the govt has appointed a retired bureaucrat, Chitale, to head the SIT. He has no criminal investigation background and it is feared he may not be able to probe the conspiracy
STATUS OF EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS
Vadnere Committee - One-man panel probed hike in tender cost of Gosikhurd and other Vidarbha Irrigation Devpt Corp (VIDC) projects.
Action Taken: Departmental inquiries against 45 VIDC engineers and officers. D P Shirke, who was executive director of VIDC, sent on leave.
Mendhegiri Committee - Panel probing cracks in Gosikhurd canal built by BJP MLC’s firm says shoddy work.
Action Taken: Over a year later, rebuilding has begun.
Kulkarni Committee - Panel found 11 barrages under Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Devpt Corp being built beyond storage capacity, would cause Rs 2,452-cr loss.
Action Taken: Report with government, no action yet.
Upase Committee - Panel found faulty design at VIDC’s Lower Penganga project. Though aquaductcum-barrage was not required, it was sanctioned and work order issued
Action Taken: Tenders cancelled
CAG on water resources dept
Improper planning and change in design resulted in cost escalation of Rs 7,126.52 crore in 49 projects between 1997 and 1999
Action Taken: State PAC discussed it, no action taken
CAG on VIDC
Unsatisfactory project management
Action Taken: Discussed by PAC, no action taken
White Paper on Irrigation
Stated status of projects and blamed cost escalation on delay in land acquisition
Action Taken: Tabled in legislature. Opposition slammed it. Attempted whitewash led to SIT.
Courtesy:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/12/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML
VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT - MEDICAL EDUCATION MINISTER (MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS THEN)
ALLEGATION | 2002 scam in pension scheme for widows, destitutes and farm labourers.
COURT STATUS | Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court has issued a notice asking why the state is yet to respond to an anti-corruption bureau request for sanction to prosecute Gavit
SUNIL TATKARE - WATER RESOURCES MINISTER
ALLEGATIONS | BJP leader Kirit Somaiya claims Tatkare and his family members have amassed disproportionate assets totalling several crores. A multi-crore scam in the irrigation department
COURT STATUS | Somaiya has moved PIL in Bombay HC. PILs filed before the Nagpur and Aurangabad benches of the HC on irrigation
TATKARE SAYS | PILs are politically motivated
CHHAGAN BHUJBAL - PWD MINISTER
ALLEGATIONS | PIL claims Bhujbal’s trust MET, which runs the Bhujbal Knowledge City in Nashik, defrauded students and government into paying excess fees to the tune of Rs 8 crore in two years since 2010. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleges Bhujbal allegedly received kickbacks for favours granted by his ministry, particularly for Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi
COURT STATUS |PILs pending
Courtesy:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/12/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00403&ViewMode=HTML
Water resources minister Sunil Tatkare on Monday said the special investigation team (SIT) that will probe the alleged irrigation scam “will certainly go beyond what the white paper (on state irrigation projects) established. But how much and how far is something yet to be decided”.
The announcement of the probe in the legislative assembly followed hectic backchannel negotiations between chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. Sources said the two were in constant touch since Friday night, trying to shape an agreeable solution for the opposition as well as Pawar’s nephew and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who has been at the centre of the irrigation scam row.
Sharad Pawar, sources said, wanted a judicial probe, while Ajit Pawar insisted on an SIT headed by a former civil servant. A judicial probe would have “meant an open invitation for anyone to file an affidavit with a complaint or allegation. Moreover, it would have dragged on at its own pace,” explained a senior NCP functionary. So, for Ajit Pawar, an SIT was considered preferable.
Meanwhile, Chavan sought a three month deadline for the probe, but Ajit Pawar was adamant on a six-month time limit. “Ajit felt that by appointing an SIT and a head of his choice, it would be easier to stay away from the judiciary,” said a senior minister.
The parleys between the parties crested on Monday, with a long closeddoor meeting attended by Chavan, Ajit Pawar and Tatkare. The coalition partners agreed that an announcement must be made before the courts take notice of the issue. Public interest litigations in the matter are likely to come up before the judiciary soon. “The government was of the opinion that someone must break the ice and end the deadlock in the assembly. What has happened over the last week (disorder in the two Houses of the legislature) has hurt our image,” said a top Congress minister.
Though at this point an SIT seems like an eyewash, given that it is unlikely to receive any powers to take punitive or other action, the opposition is hoping the judiciary will take note of the investigation. “If the judiciary decides to monitor the SIT at the behest of the petitioners, it could still spell trouble for Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare,” said a BJP leader.
While welcoming the government decision to set up an SIT, several opposition leaders demanded that either Ajit Pawar resign from the deputy CM’s post or be denied other portfolios. “For the sake of a fair probe, I request the chief minister to not give any portfolios to Ajit Pawar until it is over,” said leader of the opposition Eknath Khadse.
Courtesy:
Sharad Vyas | TNN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/12/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00401&ViewMode=HTML
SITUATION NOW ON IRRIGATION SCAM
IN EXPERT HANDS
Madhavrao Chitale, the SIT chief, has served as secretary, Union ministry of water resources, and chairman of the Central Water Commission, besides heading other panels on irrigation. He’s considered an expert on the subject. “Every year the irrigation department publishes a status report. I feel it’s obvious for the state to provide water from irrigation schemes to industries and urban areas,” he said. Sharad Pawar had defended Ajit Pawar on similar lines. Even before the panel has been finalized, activist Medha Patkar’s group criticized Chitale’s appointment. “It would have been appropriate to have a retired judge as SIT head,” said Patkar’s aide Suniti Su Ra.
POWER POINTS GOVT-ORDERED SIT VS COURT-APPOINTED SIT
Both discharge similar functions, but the first will file a report to the govt and the second to the judiciary
A court-appointed SIT has a high degree of credibility as its investigations are monitored by the court and it is unlikely to come under any pressure. In the past, court-appointed SITs have been able to book high-ranking state officials and police officers
One of the best examples is the Bombay HC-appointed SIT headed by retired director-general of police SS Puri that probed the multi-crore Telgi fake stamp paper scam in 2003. It went on to arrest top IPS officers and politicians
The govt, in case the report is not to its taste, can put it away in cold storage or even reject it
Much of an SIT’s efficacy depends on its terms and references, yet to be announced for the irrigation probe. Also crucial is whether the investigation team will comprise a police officer, who can register a criminal complaint and arrest the accused
In the irrigation scam, the govt has appointed a retired bureaucrat, Chitale, to head the SIT. He has no criminal investigation background and it is feared he may not be able to probe the conspiracy
STATUS OF EARLIER INVESTIGATIONS
Vadnere Committee - One-man panel probed hike in tender cost of Gosikhurd and other Vidarbha Irrigation Devpt Corp (VIDC) projects.
Action Taken: Departmental inquiries against 45 VIDC engineers and officers. D P Shirke, who was executive director of VIDC, sent on leave.
Mendhegiri Committee - Panel probing cracks in Gosikhurd canal built by BJP MLC’s firm says shoddy work.
Action Taken: Over a year later, rebuilding has begun.
Kulkarni Committee - Panel found 11 barrages under Godavari Marathwada Irrigation Devpt Corp being built beyond storage capacity, would cause Rs 2,452-cr loss.
Action Taken: Report with government, no action yet.
Upase Committee - Panel found faulty design at VIDC’s Lower Penganga project. Though aquaductcum-barrage was not required, it was sanctioned and work order issued
Action Taken: Tenders cancelled
CAG on water resources dept
Improper planning and change in design resulted in cost escalation of Rs 7,126.52 crore in 49 projects between 1997 and 1999
Action Taken: State PAC discussed it, no action taken
CAG on VIDC
Unsatisfactory project management
Action Taken: Discussed by PAC, no action taken
White Paper on Irrigation
Stated status of projects and blamed cost escalation on delay in land acquisition
Action Taken: Tabled in legislature. Opposition slammed it. Attempted whitewash led to SIT.
Courtesy:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/12/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00400&ViewMode=HTML
MINISTERS UNDER COURT SCANNER
In the irrigation scam, the government has ordered an SIT probe by a retired bureaucrat, a move that many are describing as an eyewash because it is unlikely to receive any powers to take punitive action. A far more damaging scrutiny is likely of allegations against some minister against whom cases are pending with courts across the state. TOI takes a look.
VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT - MEDICAL EDUCATION MINISTER (MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS THEN)
COURT STATUS | Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court has issued a notice asking why the state is yet to respond to an anti-corruption bureau request for sanction to prosecute Gavit
SUNIL TATKARE - WATER RESOURCES MINISTER
COURT STATUS | Somaiya has moved PIL in Bombay HC. PILs filed before the Nagpur and Aurangabad benches of the HC on irrigation
TATKARE SAYS | PILs are politically motivated
CHHAGAN BHUJBAL - PWD MINISTER
COURT STATUS |PILs pending
Courtesy:
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2012/12/18&PageLabel=4&EntityId=Ar00403&ViewMode=HTML
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