Has the Fadnavis Govt. in Maharashtra Failed to Check Corruption?

Following its victory in the 2014 General Elections, BJP won the public mandate in Maharashtra Assembly elections in the same year, mainly due to the crusade against anti-corruption. While this October 31 marks Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis three- year regime, the state government has left many questions unanswered on corruption allegations, un-implemented ‘promised’ farm loan waivers, Vidarbha pesticide poisoning, major differences with its allies, and long pending unfinished infrastructure projects in the state. Here is a look at the state government’s record on corruption, based on media reports.

In June 2015, Maharashtra Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde was accused in a Rs 206 crore corruption case known as chikki scam. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson, Sachin Sawant had lodged a complaint with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) with supporting evidences accusing Munde for flouting procedures in awarding contracts for the supply of items such as chikkis (a traditional Indian sweet), mats, notebooks, water filters, etc, for school children from rural and tribal areas. One of the contracts was given to Suryakanta Mahila Audyogik Sanstha for Rs 113 crore reportedly without the required process. Contracts for the purchase of Electronic Physio Growth Monitors (used to track the health of malnourished children) worth Rs 24 crore was awarded to two firms allegedly without calling for tenders. Although the ACB gave a clean chit to Munde, opposition in the state alleges Fadnavis government of shielding her.

Facing allegations over illegal purchase of land in Bhosari near Pune, former Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse resigned from the Fadnavis cabinet last year. It has been widely reported that misusing his ministerial powers, Khadse purchased a prime three acre land from Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in the name of his family members at a throwaway price of Rs 3.75 crore which had an actual market value of approximately Rs 40 crore. The case is being investigated by the Anti Corruption Bureau under the supervision of the Bombay High Court.

With nearly 50 deaths in last three months due to pesticide poisoning in Vidarbha region of the state, activists and experts have demanded the Anupam Verma Committee (which was constituted in 2013 to review pesticides that are banned in other countries but still in use in India) to speed up the review process immediately in concern with the recent deaths in this region. Although the Maharashtra police have booked pesticide firms and Krishi Seva Kendras accusing their role in the matter, the ultimate blame lies with the agricultural authorities and the state government for not keeping a proper check on these repetitive phenomenal deaths in the state. In most cases over the years, it has been alleged that big pesticide firms are in cahoots with govts. for getting permissions to sell their products to farmers. There are also allegations that bribes are paid to authorities to turn a blind eye to spurious products.

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