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Corruption, cry leaders as Krishna Valley rocks Maharashtra assembly

The Opposition members in the Maharashtra legislative assembly on Wednesday charged the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance government with large-scale corruption while implementing the Krishna Valley irrigation projects.

Initiating the debate on the Krishna Valley development projects, Rohidas Patil alleged that a number of works on which millions of rupees were spent, have been closed down, which led the government to bankruptcy.

R R Patil (Congress) alleged that there was a misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 35 million since the Krishna Valley projects were undertaken by the government and demanded inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged corruption.

He also alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was interfering in the Krishna Valley project and he was not prevented as he was supporting the BJP government at Centre.

Due to this, most of the irrigation works remainded closed, he said.

The Krishna Valley Development Corporation had to clear the payments of Rs 11.35 billion to various contractors, he added.

Replying to the debate, Maharashtra Irrigation Minister Eknath Khadse said the government was determined to complete the Krishna irrigation project to store 584 thousand million cubic feet water by year 2000 at any cost.

After storing the 584 tmc ft water, the tunnel irrigation projects would be launched.

Khadse informed the house that the additional provision of Rs 4 billion has been made to complete the project by year 2000.

The funds required to implement the project works were raised by the specially set-up Krishna Valley Development Corporation by way of issuing bonds and the state has secured the amount of Rs 12.50 billion last year. All the irrigation works would be undertaken by this corporation and so far 190 works are in progress.

He said for the first time, the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government has planned proper distribution of water in the state.

The minister rejected the allegation of corruption charges and said the opposition should produce the evidence of their allegation to the government.

UNI