In a significant corruption scandal in Navsari, eleven government employees—both current and former—have been arrested for allegedly embezzling over Rs12 crore intended for water supply schemes. The investigation was initiated following a formal complaint from Asha Patel, an executive engineer with the Valsad public works department, prompting a probe by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the CID in Gandhinagar.
The inquiry revealed that officials from the Gujarat Water Supply & Sewerage Board (GWSSB) in Navsari colluded with contractor agencies across 57 villages to defraud the state of Rs5.48 crore. The first accused, Jatin Patel of GWSSB, was identified early in the investigation led by DySP AA Pandya.
Following this, the Navsari local crime branch (LCB) arrested several individuals, including retired executive engineer Dalpat Patel (59) and others ranging in age from 37 to 71. They were subsequently presented in court and remanded for eight days.
In 2023,Rs24 crore was allocated for water supply initiatives in Navsari, but the Water and Sanitation Management Organization (WASMO) faced delays due to stalled work and missing approvals. Although tenders worth Rs16.47 crore were approved for 209 projects, only 73 were actually implemented, leaving 90 projects documented but unexecuted.
