Re-tendering of irrigation projects will test government

MUMBAI: The BJP government, which came to power riding on the multi-crore irrigation scam in Maharashtra in 2014, finally bit the bullet and on Tuesday cancelled

MUMBAI: The BJP government, which came to power riding on the multi-crore irrigation scam in Maharashtra in 2014, finally bit the bullet and on Tuesday cancelled tenders worth Rs 9,196 crore of tainted projects.

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This is the first time that the Fadnavis government has cracked the whip on the influential contractors’ lobby which has indirectly controlled the irrigation sector since the formation of five irrigation development corporations in 1995 .The cancelled contracts include tenders worth Rs 4,000 crore that had gone to one contractor alone, FA Constructions for 12 projects in Konkan. The remaining Rs 5,196 crores were given for 81 tenders for Gosikhurd project and one tender of Kikwi project (Rs 376 crore) in Nasik.

While activists and experts agree that the move will lead to a big clean up, the real test for the government will be when it re-tenders these problematic projects. Can the government keep the politically influential contractor lobby at bay when it re-issues tenders?

And, even more importantly, will it carry out a real analysis of these projects vis-a-vis requirement and cost benefit ratio? All these tenders that got cancelled on Tuesday represent some of the worst violations done in the irrigation scam. These projects were approved without getting technical clearance, having independent project designs, undertaking land acquisition or green clearances.

“It is not enough to just cancel the tender and give it to another contractor by re-tendering. Unless the state government goes back to step one and re-assesses the entire project, this will serve no purpose. Most of these projects were unviable and many need to be junked. But is there political will to prioritise only those projects that are in real public interest and drop those which are unnecessary?’’ questioned Anjali Damania, activist whose PIL in the Bombay high court led to the probe into the 12 Konkan projects.

HT had last week reported how the state government in the last one-and-half years approved cost escalations for pending irrigation projects worth Rs 2,500 crore, many based on reports prepared by its predecessor, NCP, which stands accused of massive irregularities. A similar route would mean throwing more public money down the drain.

While senior officials claim that the government will ensure none of the contractors involved in these tenders can apply for the new bids, legally and politically this may not be tenable.

“We are hoping to introduce a caveat that at least those contractors who have been named in the FIRs in the irrigation scam cannot re-tender for any of these projects. But, that action will be limited currently to only four contractors facing criminal action. We will see how restrictions can be put on the rest,’’said an official. An insider in the water resources department also said in majority of the cancelled tenders, contractors had already got 70 to 80% of the money and stand to lose remaining cost.

And, finally by canceling the tenders, is the government closing shutters on the irrigation scam? Will the political bosses, who stand accused of violation ever face music ?