Nagpur: The issue of lingering work pace of Gosikhurd irrigation project of east Vidarbha came up through a starred question tabled in the state assembly on Monday. Ironically, the question was put up by ex-irrigation minister Ajit Pawar and several other NCP leaders who were ministers in the previous government which was accused of a Rs70,000 crore irrigation scam.
Pawar and others wanted to know the reasons of delay in completion of the project. The also wanted to know if the cost of the project has now escalated to Rs18,494 crore and reasons for it. And of the government was taking steps to ensure early completion of the project.
Irrigation minister Girish Mahajan admitted that the third administrative approval for cost escalation had been given on September 29, 2016 by which the new revised cost was put at Rs18,494 cr.
Among the reasons that the minister gave for the multifold cost escalation were natural increase in material cost, improper provisioning during initial planning, design changes, delay in getting requisite clearances/ approvals, huge time lost in land acquisition and rehabilitation and resettlement of project affected people.
On measures initiated for speedy completion, Mahajan said the project has now been included in centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichai Yojana (PMKSY) and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ war-room was controlling it. Works worth Rs1,058 cr were given to National Building and Construction Company, a public sector giant. Other works were being implemented through EPC contracts. Water distribution through closed pipes was being one instead of traditional canal network.