The Maharashtra government on Wednesday ordered a probe into the water conservation scheme or Jalyukt Shivar Yojana introduced by the Devendra Fadnavis-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. A special investigation team (SIT) will be formed to probe the ambitious scheme started by the Fadnavis government earlier.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday. In the meeting, several ministers including Jayant Patil, Eknath Shinde, Chhagan Bhujbal, Uday Samant were present.
The SIT probe will be an open inquiry based on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report and complaints received from the people. The matter of financial irregularities has come out in the water conservation scheme. The cost of this scheme is worth nearly ₹10,000 crores but it is alleged that the scheme has been manipulated on a large scale.
The Fadnavis government started the scheme in 2014 with a motive to make Maharashtra drought-free by 2019. However, the CAG report has noted financial irregularities.
“Jalyukt Shivar scheme was launched by the previous government and CAG in its report has stated financial irregularities. It is important that truth comes out,” Maharashtra Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said.
In its report, the CAG said that almost ₹9,633.75 crores were spent for the scheme and it had a little impact in achieving the required outcome.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant called the scheme a “hub of corruption” and demanded a judicial inquiry into the same. He also said that Fadnavis should resign from his post as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
However, BJP leader Ashish Shelar labelled the decision to form SIT to probe the Jalyukt Shivar Yojana as “political vendetta”.
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