Mahayuti friction? BJP-headed environment dept scraps lake projects cleared when Shinde was CM

Mumbai: The BJP-headed environment department has cancelled administrative approval for 14 lake conservation projects, including 11 cleared when Eknath Shinde was Maharashtra CM and held the portfolio, ordering recovery of Rs 91.31 crore released for works with interest.The department, now headed by Pankaja Munde, also cancelled the approval granted to three projects when Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray was the environment minister (when MVA — now in opposition — was in power), according to an official order.The decision followed a steering committee meeting held on February 16, which found that five proposals were not prepared in the prescribed format under the State Lake Conservation Scheme, while nine proposals did not submit revised project reports for more than two years after the first application, it said.The 11 projects cleared during Shinde's tenure include Mukteshwar, Samatanagar and Ausa lakes in Latur, Vadap lake in Karjat in Raigad, Parampok lake in Parli in Beed, Beloshi lake in Alibaug, and Kalmadu, Visapur, Devli and Brahmanshevage lakes in Chalisgaon in Jalgaon. These projects were estimated to cost Rs 244.15 crore, of which Rs 73.31 crore had been released.The three projects cleared under Thackeray include the Ozar lake in Lanja, Ratnagiri, Erangal lake in Mumbai, and Khambale lake in Igatpuri, Nashik. The cost of these projects was Rs 35.99 crore, of which Rs 18 crore had been released.The order issued by the environment and climate change department stated that the in-principle approval for 14 projects has been cancelled, and funds released in the past are to be recovered with interest.The State Lake Conservation Plan has been in operation in Maharashtra since 2006-07. Local bodies submit project proposals to the state government for approval under the scheme.After coming to power in December 2024, the Devendra Fadnavis government set aside some decisions implemented by the then CM Eknath Shinde, who heads Shiv Sena, a key ally in Mahayuti.In January 2025, the Fadnavis government changed the three-course meal plan announced in June 2024, when Shinde was the chief minister, stating that schools would include sweet dishes if management committees raised funds.The government had also stayed a five-year tender worth Rs 3,200 crore issued for mechanised housekeeping of government hospitals and primary health centres, and directed continuation of the earlier system in February.In April 2025, the Fadnavis government set aside the previous ‘One State, One Uniform' decision, stating that school management committees would decide uniforms.Munde did not respond to calls and messages. Queries sent to Shinde did not receive a response.