Irrigation scam: Govt sends official on compulsory leave

, Oct 16: The government asked irrigation department secretary DP Shirke on Monday to remain on leave till his name was cleared in the ongoing probe into the multi-crore rupee irrigation scam.

Conforming the report, well-placed sources in the water resources ministry said by asking Shirke to 'compulsorily proceed on leave', the government decided to suspend his services. Shirke had been asked to prepare a white paper on the irrigation projects worth Rs 70,000 crore, which involved financial irregularities. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had ordered a probe against 45 officials over the financial irregularities.

Shirke was the chief executive engineer who supervised the irrigation projects that were undertaken by the Bidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation.

Shirke did not comment on the matter till the last reports came in.

OneIndia News