In twin major decisions, the  Maharashtra Government on Tuesday scrapped 94 tenders in 14 irrigation projects floated by the previous Congress-NCP alliance dispensation that are under investigation by the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and enhanced the cost of the mega Gosikhurd national irrigation project from Rs5,659 crore to Rs18,494 crore.

The move to scrap at one stroke 94 tenders — 12 in coastal Konkan region, one in Nashik district and 81 in Gosikhurd project in Vidarbha — came as a jolt to Maharashtra's former senior Minister Ajit Pawar, who was State Irrigation Minister between 1999 and 2010, before he was elevated as the Deputy Chief Minister and handed the portfolios of Finance and Energy.

 The scrapping of a sizeable number of tenders (81) of Gosikhurd project should be seen in the context of the fact that Ajitdada, as Ajit Pawar is known in the State political circles, has been come under the scanner of the investigating agencies for the alleged irregularities in awarding of 38 contracts worth Rs20,000 crore in 2009, without seeking a mandatory sanction from the governing council of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC). He had also appeared before the State ACB for questioning on October 21, 2015 in connection with the alleged irregularities in the irrigation projects in Raigad district in Konkan region.

 The scrapping of 94 projects comes at a time when the ACB is holding an open inquiry into the in which alleged irregularities in the floating of tenders and cost escalations in projects located in nthree different regions — Konkan, north-Maharashtra and Vidarbha. 

In most of 12 of the irrigation projects of Konkan region which are under the investigations by the ACB, the Maharashtra Government has neither acquired land nor has it transferred forest land for the projects concerned. It has also not also rehabilitated the project-affected people.  

"The State Government will scrap the tenders under the Indian Contracts Act, 1972. ... In Gosikhurd projects in which 81 tenders have been scrapped, fresh tenders will be floated," an official spokesperson said.

In a related development, the State Government enhanced the cost of the much-delayed Gosikhurd national irrigation project from Rs5,659.10 crore in 2007 to Rs18,494.57 crore based on the revised estimates for the projects. "The ongoing inquiry by the State ACB will have no bearing on enhanced cost estimates for the Gosikurd project said.       

The spokesperson attributed the cost escalations in Gosikuyrd project to the rise in prices, delay in land acquisition, change of project plans, increase in rehabilitation package and rise in administrative costs.

 When completed, the Gosikurd project will benefit agriculturalists holding 2.5 lak hectares of land across the three districts of Chandrapur (1,43,106 hectares), Bhandara (81,697 hectares) and Nagpur (22,997 hectares).