Mumbai, Oct 8 (IANS): Congress's arch rival Shiv Sena Sunday appreciated Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for ordering a probe into the irrigation scam in Maharashtra, estimated to run into over Rs.20,000 crore, over which NCP leader Ajit Pawar was forced to quit as deputy chief minister.

Appreciating Chavan for "showing courage", Shiv Sena's executive president Uddhav Thackeray said it is not an easy task to order such a massive probe while he is under tremendous pressure from alliance partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

Earlier Sunday, Chavan confirmed that he had ordered a probe against 45 officials of Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) for their alleged involvement in the scam.

"Chavan has been under tremendous pressure from NCP chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew (former deputy chief minister) Ajit Pawar. They met him separately in the last two days to discuss the issue," Thackeray told media persons.

"However, the inquiry (should) be in-depth and should nail those guilty even if they are ministers. The probe should be finished in a specific time frame," he added.

Last month, NCP leader Ajit Pawar quit as the deputy chief minister after his name cropped up for alleged irregularities in the irrigation department which he headed between 1999-2009.

Bringing up the issue of what he called the "Karnataka-occupied Maharashtra", Thackeray requested President Pranab Mukherjee not to attend the inauguration of the Vidhan Bhavan building in Belgaum (Karnataka) Thursday.

"The president should respect the sentiments of Marathi speaking people of Belgaum, Karwar and other Marathi-dominated areas before deciding to attend the inauguration," he said.

Thackeray also said that Chavan should take up the issue and check if a formal inauguration of a disputed area amounts to contempt of court as the matter is sub-judice.

Thackeray reiterated that the disputed areas should be declared as union territory.