Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Raids reveal irregularities in NREGS

The New Indian Express, May 29, 2007

MALKANGIRI: Irregularities in the ongoing National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) works in Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts came to light after surprise raids were conducted by the vigilance sleuths in these districts on Saturday.

The raids were conducted on the directions of Jeypore Vigilance SP Bishnu Charan Das. “Irregularities in Kuhurakote-Palas road construction work under Jharigaon block, non-payment of Rs 55 a day to the labourers and obtaining thumb impression from labourers who can sign were observed during investigation in the Nabarangpur district,” the Vigilance SP said.

The road is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh and is a departmental one but during investigation, it was revealed that the work was allotted to one contractor Khaga Nayak.

Further, the contractor instead of paying daily wages to the labourers, is getting the work done on contract basis,” he added.

Similarly, irregularities have been detected in the ongoing tank renovation work at Gunthaguda village under Pujariput gram panchayat of Jeypore block in Koraput. During the raids, muster roll, payment register and list of labourers were not found at the spot. Though details like the mode and nature of payment should be reflected as per the NREGS norms, nothing was mentioned in the register, vigilance sources said.

In Rayagada, the vigilance team detected irregularities in NREGS road construction work from Adapatiguda to Dumaguda under K.Maligaon gram panchayat. During the raid, only seven labourers were present at the construction spot against 10 as mentioned in the muster roll, the SP said.

Irregularities were also detected in a road renovation work from NH- 270 to Amalpalli under Madanpur Rampur block in Kalahandi district. Cases have been registered.

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