MLA Apok clarifies on letter written to Maharashtra Chief Minister

Reacting to the news report “Maharashtra irrigation scam: Nagaland Cong MLA had written to CM against transfer of official” carried out by Mumbai based Times of India (TOI), wherein it stated that in the letter dated June 24, 2009, Nagaland Congress MLA C Apok Jamir had urged Chavan to stall the transfer of S D Kulkarni, superintending engineer (SE) in the Akola irrigation circle, Apok Jamir Friday said that he had written letters to many ministers on various occasions, as per people’s request.

He however, also clarified that he had written the letters in “good faith”. With regard to SD Kulkarni’s, Apok said he needed to recollect and check, since it was way back.

The TOI report stated that Kulkarni is one of the 45 officials against whom the Maharashtra government last week commenced an inquiry for alleged malpractices in irrigation projects in Vidarbha.

Incidentally, Apok Jamir had written the letter when his father, S.C Jamir, was the governor of Maharashtra, the report added.

The report further stated that the water resources department is currently embroiled in a major scam following a series of exposes in TOI and allegations that Rs 35,000 crore was swindled or wasted on dud irrigation projects, the report stated.

It pointed out that Apok Jamir, wrote in the letter, “Respected Ashok Chavanji,…Mr S D Kulkarni is working as superintending engineer in Akola.

He is a hard-working and very efficient officer devoted for (sic) the development of (the) Vidarbha region. It is learnt that he is being transferred from Akola.

This, I believe, will adversely affect the progress of works in Amravati region. I therefore earnestly request your good self to kindly consider and retain him in Akola for minimum one year.” Chavan acknowledged Jamir’s letter five days later, on June 29, 2009, TOI report stated.