Mithi River Desilting Scam: BJP, Congress Demand MCOCA; Minister Uday Samant Promises Strict Action

Mumbai: Citing a huge scam in desilting the Mithi river, the BJP members in the state legislative council made a vociferous demand for the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused, the Congress too joined it.

The issue was raised by the BJP members Rajhans Singh, Pravin Darekar, Prasad Lad and others through a calling attention motion. Crores of rupees have been spent on desilting the Mithi river, he said.

Replying to it on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the Urban Development Department, Minister Uday Samant informed the house that, before the tender for desilting Mithi was awarded in 2013, the silt was being dumped at the Deonar dumping ground. The contractors were supposed to take care of the silt after 2013, he said.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has examined papers in the last 4-5 years with 3.44 lakh photographs of the transportation of the silt. But, only pictures of the dumpers were available and not those of the silt inside. The question is where the 16.7 lakh MT of silt was dumped. The contractors were expected to develop a dumping site, which has not been traced.

The SIT has arrested a few people in this case. Some of them are involved in running a chain of hotels as well as nightclubs and restaurants, the minister said.

The BJP members Darekar, Lad made a vehement demand for the MCOCA revealing some damning details of the scam. The scam might be worth Rs 1,000 Crore, said Lad. Minister Samant said the government will dig out whoever was deeply involved in the scam.

Congress member Ashok alias Bhai Jagtap too joined them, demanding provisions of the MCOCA. Besides slapping the MCOCA against the accused, their properties should also be sealed, Lad demanded.

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The Minister assured the house that, for invoking provisions of MCOCA, a discussion would be held with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis because the powers rest with the Home Department under him.