Maharashtra: Two agriculture officers suspended as Jalyukta work under lens – Times of India

MUMBAI: A week after the government set up a committee to probe the Jalyukta Shivar water conservation scheme launched by erstwhile chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, the agriculture department on Friday suspended two senior officials from Marathwada for alleged involvement in irregularities linked to the scheme.

Divisional agriculture officer Vishnu Misal and tehsil agriculture officer B B Bangar are both facing action for their role in connection with water conservation projects.
Beed-based Congressman Vasant Munde had lodged a complaint with the governor and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging rampant corruption in the Jalyukta Shivar scheme. Subsequently, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) too made adverse observations on the scheme launched in 2106 when large parts of the state were in the grips of a drought. CAG’s analysis showed that while Rs 9,364 crore was spent, groundwater levels had not improved nor water neutrality achieved. CAG studied 1,128 projects in 120 villages across six districts in the Marathwada region.
After preliminary reports, when it was confirmed that there were irregularities, Thackeray on December 2 set up a committee headed by retired IAS officer Bijay Kumar to conduct a probe into the scheme. The committee has been asked to complete its work in six months.
Activist Munde’s contention was that projects in Beed were completed on paper, but in reality, no work was done. He alleged illegal payments to 138 contractors. Earlier, a district-level panel in Beed headed by the collector had unearthed corruption of Rs 8 crore in 307 projects. Then, the agriculture department had suspended 32 officials and initiated criminal proceedings against 167 labour cooperative societies and contractors.
A senior bureaucrat said the CM should ensure the probe is completed in six months and that it does not drag on like the investigation into the irrigation scam. When Fadnavis took over the reins, he had granted permission to the anti-corruption bureau to conduct an open inquiry against NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare. During the five years Fadnavis was in power, while offences were registered against officials of the water resources department, no case was registered against NCP politicians.