This is despite the fact that a proposal was forwarded to the Irrigation Department to construct a check dam using funds released on the basis of the Cowlagi Committee report earlier this year.

But no check dam has come up yet. The reason: a tug of war between NGOs and MLA Mohansinh Rathwa. Dahod-based NGO N M Sadguru Water and Development Foundation was given the task to construct these dams allegedly without issuing tenders.

Former District Planning Officer B L Nalvaya had allegedly given the work to construct four check dams worth Rs 33 lakh each at Zab and Ghodiyala villages, without floating any tenders.

“Ours is a reputed NGO and we have been doing work for the last 37 years. The state government has provisions for NGOs like us to give funds directly for works in rural areas,” said Harnath Jagawat, director Sadguru Foundation. When asked how much work has been done in the villages, he said, “It is quite evident… we have been doing work for the poor and we even incur loses.”

Kachan Rathwa from Godhiyala, who has recently begun digging wells under NREGA, said: “While there is not much problem in other areas of Pavi Jetpur, southern parts are suffering a lot. I was the one who had showed the location (for check dam) to the engineers, but the work never started. They did a survey and returned.”

When asked as to why the work has not started at Ghodiyala, Jagawat said, “We did not get the advance fund. We have got technical sanction for the check dams.”

The district authorities, meanwhile, said they do not give work based on reputation and that “every NGO has to follow the tender process”. Vadodara District Collector Vijay Nehra said, “Funds have not been released to Sadguru yet. We have categorically asked them to first show their work and then claim the funds.”

N M Patel from Irrigation Department said that though Rs 1 core have been deposited in the account of District Development Officer, “we have not released funds for Sadguru foundation, even as they forced us to”.

He said the funds have been withheld as several inquiries about the NGO are pending, like as to why the NGO was given the project without issuing tenders.

Asked why the funds approved on the recommendations of the Cowlagi Committee lapsed in 2006-07, Nehra said, “The taluka could get funds only in February 2007 and the district authorities could not distribute all the funds in one month before the completion of the financial year.”

Like Kwant, the report had also suggested a telemedicine project at Pavi Jetpur. But the only medical officer at the local Community Health Centre, Dr Hiren Shah was unaware about the project.