IRRIGATION SIT NOT MANDATED TO DECIDE WHO IS GUILTY: CM

MUMBAI: Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said that the special investiga tion team (SIT) on irrigation led by renowned water expert Madhav Chitale, was not man dated to pinpoint responsibility on the guilty in the irrigation scam.

His statement comes nearly eight months after the SIT was set up, and confirms the Oppositions’ and activists’ suspi cions that the SIT is an eyewash and ill-equipped to investigate the scam on the corruption allegations from the point of a criminal investigation.

Speaking to the media Chavan said: “The SIT has been set up to decide the future course of action for irrigation in the state.”

His statement will give a han dle to the Opposition to tackle the government, especially the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). The NCP has headed the water resources department for the last 13 years. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar was the water resources minister for more than a decade and had resigned from the cabinet in the wake of the scam, touted to be worth Rs70,000 crore by the Opposition.

Chavan’s statement may also help activists further their case in seeking a probe in the scam under the aegis of the high court. The SIT has been given nine terms of reference, includ ing to probe revised adminis trative approvals for projects where costs were hiked, examine change of scope of work of such projects, pinpoint responsibility and recommend action.