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Nagpur: Questions have been raised on tenders called for the Jigaon dam project during the BJP regime led by Devendra Fadnavis. If the earlier Congress-NCP regime has drawn flak for "favouring" irrigation contractors, during BJPs tenure four tenders worth Rs2,473 crore in all were issued for constructing pipe distribution network (PDN) and lift irrigation system (LIS) even before the dam itself could be built.
Being built on Puma river, the dam will cater to much of drinking water needs of the drought-prone Buldhana town apart from irrigating over 80,000 hectares. The ACB is conducting an inquiry into tenders granted for the project during the Congress-NCP regime. Recently, the agency had given a clean chit to NCP neta and the then WRD minister Ajit Pawar though offences have been registered against VIDC officials and contractors in four cases.
Started in 1989, the dams head work — which is the main structure for storing water — has not been built yet. For the head work to be completed, the land coming under submergence area has to be acquired and the project affected persons (PAPs) have to be rehabilitated.
The question of building pipeline network and LIS arises only after the main dam is complete or nearing completion, said sources in the sector.
Unless the land is acquired and oustees are rehabilitated water cannot be stored in the darn. The pipeline network will only be needed after the water storage begins. If the pipeline network is built in advance it may also leave the assets damaged due lack of maintenance and use, said sources.
The matter has already been taken up before the incumbent chief minister Uddhav Thackeray by president of contractors and builders association Pravin Mahajan. In a letter addressed to Thackeray, Mahajan has stressed that the pipelines and LIS need not be a priority at this stage. The issue was also discussed in the review meet on Jigaon convened by the chief minister during the winter session.
Mahajan pointed out that there was a link between approval of new estimate of Rs13,874 crore for the Jigaon dam this September and the four tenders.
The state-level technical committee of water resources department (WRD) had initially proposed a total cost of Rs13,874 crore for Jigaon dam. The estimates were brought down to Rs11,022 crore by the sub-committee consisting secretaries from the finance, planning and water resources departments.
When the proposal was taken up before the state cabinet, the cost of Rs13,874 crore was approved instead of the lesser amount of Rs11,022 crore as proposed by the sub-committee of secretaries. This was an increase of Rs2,852.53 crore, enough to accommodate the four tenders, said Mahajan.
The tenders were issued on September 7 this year and the order approving the hike followed in two days. However, the tender dates have been extended six times with the last extension in this month. This was done owing to controversies that mired the decision, said sources.
The fund allocation for the project comes to over Rs400 crore a year on an average. The available amount may not be enough to accommodate works to such a scale.
Cost hiked to complete project early
Justifying the hike of Rs2,852.53 crore, former Water Resources Department (WRD) minister Girish Mahajan said, the public representatives approached the government stating that theirs was a drought-hit area and reduction in funds may delay completion of the project. "I dont remember what exactly happened in the meeting but the representatives contacted us with their grievance. Our governments only aim was of early completion of the project which was lingering since last many years due to which a huge backlog is created. Lots of work for canals carrying water were also pending. Hence the increased grant was cleared as per the recommendations of State Advisory Committee," he told TOI. |
