Probe ordered against VIDC officials: Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered a departmental probe against 45 officials of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), who were indicted in the Vadnere committee report in 2010.

The departmental inquiry had been pending for two years.

Chavan, who was in Thane today, confirmed that he had approved the probe while denying that there was a delay of two years in taking the decision.

On why it took two years for the action, he said the government had to conduct its own inquiry and later arrive at the conclusion of ordering a probe and added that this process takes time.

The engineers, including VIDC's former chief executive director DP Shirke, will now face probe on several counts including having turned a blind eye to government norms while clearing cost escalations, not supervising works on site and not following tender conditions.

The one-man Vadnere committee was set up in March 2010 following complaints and media reports over cost escalations, and official-contractor-politician nexus in approving projects in Vidarbha.

When asked about his meeting with NCP chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday, Chavan said he had two-three meetings with Pawar in the recent past wherein the issues relating to and concerning the state and Centre were discussed.