The Union minister of state for environment and forest Jairam Ramesh is at it again.
After taking on his cabinet colleagues from the mines, coal, power and surface transport ministries, the no-nonsense minister is now talking tough to the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Rajasthan, both of whom are from the Congress.
In a letter sent to Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on June 24, Ramesh has expressed “shock” over the deteriorating water quality and ecological health of Mutha river.
In the letter, a copy of which is in DNA’s possession, Ramesh refers to his June 19 Pune visit and says that the river is in a bad and pitiable condition. The minister also tries to sarcastically make a point by stating, “I am sure you share this concern. Can we not collaborate to restore the river to some decent condition?”
However, in stark contrast, Ramesh’s letter to Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot was much polite in tendering advice.
Ramesh is unhappy with the slow pace of work undertaken by Gehlot’s government despite Rs200 crore given to the state for conservation of historical lakes.
On one hand Ramesh has asked Chavan to “submit a proposal for improving the condition of Mutha river with the ministry ready to extend financial support”, while on the other hand the minister has sought Gehlot’s “personal intervention in providing the desired impetus in the projects”.
According to sources in the ministry, Rs84.8 crore and Rs41.9 crore have been sanctioned for Pichola lake and Fateh Sagar lake in Udaipur respectively; Rs15.3 crore has been sanctioned for Anasagar lake and Rs48.4 crore for Pushkar Sarovar in Ajmer.
It may be recalled that this is not the first time that Ramesh has criticised or has been at loggerheads with his colleagues in the Congress. He has had tiffs with other Union cabinet ministers and has not cleared their projects.
Union surface transport minister Kamal Nath, it is believed, has complained to prime minister Manmohan Singh about Ramesh.
According to sources, coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, mining minister BK Handique have also complained to Singh.
However, the thing that has saved Ramesh is his working style.
He has categorically told the prime minister that his decisions are adhering to policy guidelines and he sticks to the rules rather than succumbing to pressures.
