Saddled with a Cabinet comprising several ministers with a criminal past, Kalyan Singh may be unable to keep his pledge to provide a clean and efficient government, but he's certainly going all out to fulfil another promise: to expose rampant corruption during the six months of Mayawati's rule. Last week, he took the first step -- he instituted a high-level administrative inquiry into the decision to lease out government farms at throwaway prices and asked the CBI to look into any criminal intent on the part of the former chief minister and senior officials.

During its last days, the Mayawati government had decided to lease out 7,000 acres of land spread over 23 state agriculture farms at the annual rate of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 per acre without following any financial and administrative norms. No tenders were invited; nor were there provisions for earnest money. Moreover, established contractors were deliberately kept out of the leasing process. The transfer of the farms was, subsequently, stayed following the intervention of the high court.

Kalyan began his crackdown against Mayawati by first ordering a CBI probe into the Rs 500 crore Greater Noida land scam in which the then government had attempted to use 700 acres of industrial land for residential purposes for a paltry sum. CBI sources say there is enough proof of criminal intent and point out that Greater Noida Chairperson Usha Chatrath (IAS) was removed from the post when she raised objections to the deal.

Other mega scams in which Mayawati's role is being investigated:

• The alleged scandal that had thrived in the name of "Ambedkarisation" of the state during the past six months. In the Ambedkar Park scheme alone, the Mayawati government is said to have spent Rs 120 crore from contingency funds. The Comptroller and auditor General has, in its report, questioned the manner in which architects were hired and money was wasted by the Lucknow Development Authority and the Uttar Pradesh State Construction Corporation.
  
• The fire float pumps scam in which the main beneficiary was stated to be a Tamil Nadu based-BSP leader who is also a supplier of these pumps. Rs 1 crore had already been paid for the delivery of the first lot and orders were placed for another lot, but payment was withheld the day Kalyan took over.

Mayawati is, however, unfazed by the charges, saying the probes are a BJP ploy to destroy her image and divert public attention from the criminalisation of the cabinet. Though the inquiries, say political observers, are likely to proceed at snail's pace, Kalyan hopes they will keep Mayawati busy explaining her conduct for some time -- and out of mischief. 

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