Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...
By Dheeraj Fartode
THE much-hyped Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by State Government to look into Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam, may turn out to be a toothless tiger. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, on Friday, ruled out an inquiry under Commission of Inquiry Act and was evasive on legal status of SIT.
Chavan’s statement is seen as an anti-climax, especially after he had set off political storm in State questioning only 0.1 per cent irrigation creation despite spending Rs 70,000 crore in last 10 years. Interestingly, despite SIT’s ambiguous legal status, the Opposition also blew its trumpet claiming that SIT inquiry into irrigation scam was their victory.
At customary post-session press conference, Chavan seemed defensive on matters related to Water Resources Department. Asked why the Government announced SIT and did not order judicial probe, Chief Minister played cautiously and said, “I will not answer this question.” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was targeted by the Opposition parties over irrigation scam, was conspicuous by his absence during the press conference. Usually, Chief Minister is accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister in post-session press conference.
Asked whether scam in irrigation sector would form part of SIT probe, Chief Minister did not disclose anything, saying that everything would be clear in Terms of References being drafted for the probe team headed by eminent water expert Dr Madhavrao Chitaley. “There were other more important issues before the House than just SIT,” Chief Minister replied.
“At present, it is more important to determine future course of action on creation of irrigation facilities, especially concentrating on proper usage and sharing of precious resource of water. Utilisation of funds and improving performance of State in irrigation development also would form focus areas. Discussion on these issues during winter session would have been more helpful,” he said. He refuted the Opposition’s allegation that late announcement of SIT was responsible for washout of proceedings during the first week of session.
Chief Minister countered the Opposition’s charge that Maharashtra Government was reeling under debt burden. “Which State is bullish about finances? Market drawings are necessary to finance welfare projects,” he said while citing example of US that had $13 trillion debt.
CM blames Oppn for harming Vidarbha’s interests
CHIEF Minister Prithviraj Chavan admitted that the State Government could not provide justice to issues of Vidarbha owing to repeated stalling of Houses by Opposition that insisted on SIT probe into irrigation scam and did not allow any work in the first week of winter session.
“Winter session is held in Nagpur with an objective of discussing issues concerning development of Vidarbha. It was endeavour of Democratic Front government to hold discussion thoroughly on developmental issues and problems of farmers. But, sadly, the first week of session was a complete washout as the Opposition did not let the House function,” Chief Minister said. Hence, he added, issues of Vidarbha took a backseat.
During winter session, issues pertaining to speedier execution of ambitious projects like MIHAN and Gorewada International Zoo, promotion of wildlife tourism, irrigation development and backlog removal, promotion of Vidarbha to fetch investment were discussed at length and Vidarbha-specific measures also were announced. More importantly, two Government Medical Colleges and a Government Engineering College were sanctioned for Vidarbha. Hence, the Opposition’s allegations are baseless, Chavan said.
Chavan said, instead of demanding package from the Centre, the State had asked for inclusion of all districts of Vidarbha under Intensive Irrigation Development Programme. Textile Policy would encourage setting up of mills in Vidarbha region that produced cotton, he added.
Power tariff for industry to be rationalised: Chavan
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| Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan |
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan hinted at rationalising higher power tariff for industries to ensure that they did not lose competitive advantage. He said, a meeting will be held in Mumbai, with Union Ministers, Group Leaders of all parties in State Legislature, and industry leaders, to discuss at length the issues relating to power sector. The meeting would take a call on rationalising higher power rates of industries.
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