Chitale committee would scrutinise all irrigation projects

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government today said that Madhav Chitale committee, which is conducting inquiry into the alleged Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam, would scrutinise all the irrigation projects in the state.

However, the Commission of Inquiry Act would not apply to this probe, said Minister for Water Resources Sunil Tatkare (NCP) during a debate in the Legislative Council on the scam.

"If corruption is found, the government will step down," he said.

Daring the Opposition to prove corruption in irrigation projects, Tatkare said they would not find irregularities even through "a binocular".

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Vinod Tawde (BJP) earlier asked if the government would hold this inquiry under the Commission of Inquiry Act. "Committees are formed only as a formality. The terms of reference of Chitale committee must be enhanced," he demanded.

Senior Shiv Sena legislator Ramdas Kadam asked the government to conduct a CBI inquiry. But the government turned down both demands.

The alleged scam pertains to several incomplete projects in the state, which saw expenditure of Rs 70,000 crore on the irrigation sector in the last 10 years, without much results on the ground.