BJP chief Nitin Gadkari has sought funds from the Union Water Ministry to be sanctioned to contractors for a dam project in the state of Maharashtra.
The Gosikhurd irrigation dam project in Vidarbha has been the focus of the BJP's attack against the state government.
In his letter, he has urged the Centre to release Rs 400 crores to the contractors of the project by saying "Due to non-payment of their dues the contractors stop their works. This may delay the programme and would also result in time overrun and delays in creation of irrigation potential."
"It is requested to recommend the project to receive funds of the year 2011-12 as per continuation proposal which is under consideration with the ministry of water resources, Govt. of India," the letter released by India Against Corruption.
It further says, "In view of above it is requested to release the fund of year 2011-12 as requested by State Govt. of Maharashtra at an earliest".
Interestingly it has been found that Gadkari's close aide and BJP MP Ajay Sancheti has bagged a lot of funds for contracts in these projects.
Sancheti allegedly bagged contracts more than the cap of three to each firm in many other projects as well.
Earlier, RTI activist and India Against Corruption (IAC) member Anjali Damania had alleged that Gadkari had refused to raise the issue of irrigation scam as he had business links with Ajit Pawar, who was irrigation minister between 1999 and 2009, and also ex-officio chairman of the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation.
"I have asked for an apology from Gadkari, he has till 5 pm today to explain why he wrote such a letter," RTI activist Anjali Damania said after the revelation.
Meanwhile, Gadkari said,"I wrote a letter for the release of payment for the irrigation project, not for any contractor."
