Another FIR filed in Konkan dam scam

MUMBAI: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation into the multi-crore irrigation Konkan dam scam inched ahead on Monday with the agency filing a First Information

MUMBAI: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation into the multi-crore irrigation Konkan dam scam inched ahead on Monday with the agency filing a First Information Report (FIR) against five irrigation officials and one F A Enterprises contractor.

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Construction of the Kalu dam on the Kalu river in Thane district was started without a forest clearance, even though it was to submerge over 900 hectares of forest.

HT - in a series of reports - revealed illegalities in the project. The project involved a contractor-official nexus, which led to cost escalating and norms being violated.

The FIR has been filed against Girish Babar, then executive director of t he Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC), Babasaheb Patil, chief engineer, Water Resources department (WRD), Satish Wadgave, superintendent engineer, Thane circle, Jaywant Kasar, executive engineer, Navi Mumbai and Haridas Tonpe, then chief engineer of the Tapi Irrigation Development Corporation (TIDC).

The FIR also names Nisar Fateh Mohammed Khatri, owner of FA Enterprises.

The initial cost of the project tender was Rs 380 crore. It was awarded at Rs 610 crore, though its current cost is between Rs 720 and 800 crore.

The FIR considered the cost hike from Rs 421 crore to Rs 451 crore.

It charged the officials and the contractor with indulging in a criminal conspiracy to eliminate fair competition, which led to a government loss of Rs 30 crore, a figure that investigators said will balloon following the inquiry.

The FIR has been filed under sections 418, 420, 465, 468, 471 , 109, 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code referring to charges of cheating, forgery, falsification of accounts, criminal conspiracy and under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

“Four firms were shortlisted for this tender, of which two were sister firms - F A Constructions and F A Enterprises.

For all four, the Ear nest Money Deposit was paid through one company,’’ said police sub inspector and investigating officer Ajay Aphale of ACB (Thane).

The FIR noted t hat F A Enterprises - set up in 2006 - wrongly showed the work experience of its parent firm, F A Constructions, to bag the tender, violating norms.

F A Constructions had bagged six Konkan projects and so, should have been disqualified from the auction.