Maharashtra Legislative Council was adjourned for the day after vociferous opposition members stalled proceedings, insisting that the government discuss the report of the Madhav Chitale Committee, which probed alleged irrigation scam in the state.
Soon after the question hour, the Leader of Opposition Vinod Tawde sought a discussion on the report under rule 289 of the House.
“We apprehend that the government will table the ATR on the report on the last day of the ongoing session and avoid a discussion,” he said.
Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh rejected the demand for a debate on the Chitale report.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that the ATR would be tabled before the session ends.
“The ATR is ready but has to be approved by the Cabinet before it is tabled in the House,” Pawar said.
The opposition members pointed out that it has been several days since the report was submitted and wondered why the ATR wasn’t approved in any of the cabinet meetings so far. They shouted slogans demanding debate on the report after which the Chairman adjourned the House for 40 minutes.
When the proceedings resumed, the opposition members continued their slogan shouting following which the House was adjourned for the day.
The Chitale panel had submitted its report to Chief Minister Prithvraj Chavan earlier this year. The report has been compiled after going through “thousands of documents” over 14 months.
Chitale, a water management expert, was appointed by the government in December 2012 to examine the alleged irregularities in the water resources department, controlled by NCP.
