Mumbai: Forget skeletons, a criminal probe into the functioning of the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) may reveal an entire graveyard. The Chenara minor dam project in state water resources minister Sunil Tatkare’s bastion, Roha in Raigad district, reveals shocking instances of how officials shifted the goal post several times to push it through. The project was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in October, 2011. Documents accessed by TOI show the project was initially planned to irrigate 1,440 hectares, but subsequently reduced to 250 hectares when officials realized that permissions would be difficult to get. The dam’s height, which was fixed at 44.20m, was shortened to 28.95m. The project was meant to benefit 30 villages. But when the plan was revised, only three villages were shown as beneficiaries. Yet, its cost shot up manifold. As in dozens of irrigation projects exposed by TOI over the past one year, the cost of the Chenara project, too, suddenly increased from Rs 32 crore to Rs 128 crore. Chenara project also given to FA group firm Mumbai:The cost of the Chenara minor dam project in Roha, which was initially pegged at Rs 32 crore, suddenly shot up to Rs 128 crore. This phenomenal increase was later reversed when TOI reported on a similar price hike in the Kondhane dam project in Raigad district last year. Interestingly, the firm that was given the Chenara project was FA Construction which, along with its sister concern F A Enterprises, has been the water resources department’s favourite dam contractor. The FA Group has over a dozen projects in Raigad district itself. Chenara was initially envisaged as a big minor irrigation project to irrigate 1,440 hectares and benefit 30 villages in Roha and Murud talukas. The actual forest land required for it was 166 hectares, which included 23 hectares of ‘Fansad’ sanctuary. The initial height of the dam was planned at 39.5m. However, a Supreme Court directive stipulated that if any activity is to be carried out in the forest sanctuary area, permission from the court would be a pre-requisite. KIDC then decided that the land within the wildlife sanctuary could not be utilized and an alternate study be carried out by excluding the sanctuary area. The official note said that if the sanctuary land was to be excluded, the height of the dam would have to be reduced by 22.80m, which would make the project unfeasible. An alternate study was done and the position of the dam was shifted downstream by 200-300m and the height of the dam reduced from 10m to 29.5m. The irrigation potential for the dam was reduced to 755 hectares from the original 1,440 hectares. But, the note further marked that the dam was still in a 10km radius of the wildlife sanctuary. The water resources department granted revised administrative approval to the project in June 2011 for Rs 32 crore with a condition that it will be meant only for ‘on shelf’ approval. This was according to the governor’s directive and subject to the issue of a valid water availability certificate. As per the governor’s directive, any new project that irrigates land of more than 250 hectares cannot be commenced. ‘On shelf’ approval infers that the project is approved in principle in order to facilitate necessary clearances such as forest, land acquisition, etc and such approval does not provide calling of tender for the project. Sources said to circumvent this rule, the irrigation potential was reduced further from 755 hectares to 250, while the dam height was brought down to 20m. Despite the project’s “on shelf” status, KIDC went ahead with the tender and issued a work order to F A Construction. But after the tender was awarded, a sudden decision was taken to revise the scope of the project by increasing the height of the dam to 28.95m and storage of water to 23.62 million cubic metres. This led to the cost soaring by 395% to Rs 128.9 crore. Although the cost revision was obtained in the 53rd Governing Council meeting presided over by Tatkare himself, it was later cancelled in June 2012 following the Kondhane dam expose by this newspaper. TROUBLED WATERS Chenara big minor dam project is situated in state water resources minister Sunil Tatkare’s bastion — Roha, Raigad It was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in October 2011 Contract was awarded to F A Construction with its sisterconcern F A Enterprises, this firm has been the water resources dept’s favourite dam contractor; it has more than a dozen projects in Raigad itself The project was initially envisaged as a big minor irrigation project to irrigate 1,440 hectares and benefit 30 villages. While the project’s breadth has shrunk considerably since, its cost has risen manifold ‘Project funds transferred elsewhere’ F unds for the Chenara dam scheme in Raigad district were “illegally” shifted to the Gadgadi project awarded to contractor FA Construction in Ratnagiri district. Documents with TOIshow that Rs 4 crore was allotted for the survey in Chenara in 2012-13. The survey began in July 2011 and ended a year later. But, money for it is yet to be paid. “Due to political pressure, the Rs 4 crore was diverted by KIDC to Gadgadi. This is illegal,’’ said a water resources department insider, who didn’t wish to be named. Insiders said funds for one district cannot be diverted to a project in another district. Documents show how the money was diverted for Gadgadi when work in Chenara could not begin. Similarly, Rs 8 crore for the Kondhane project in Raigad was transferred to the Centre-funded Gad project in Ratnagiri . TNN Opposition pans govt’s performance