Seeking extension of the proposed CBI probe into the rural job scam under MGNREGA to all the 30 districts of Orissa, opposition BJP today held chief minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for the misuse of public money.
“Chief Minister is head of the State Council which monitors and supervises execution of work under MGNREGA.
Therefore, he cannot escape responsibilities after the Centre informing the Supreme Court about its plan to conduct a CBI probe into the matter,” BJP’s senior leader and former minister Bijay Mohapatra told reporters here.
While earlier surveys in eight selected districts had estimated 88 per cent misuse (about Rs 500 crore), the BJP said that the amount of misappropriation would be much more if the CBI probed into the matter in all the 30 districts of the State.
Noting that the State government’s claim of being honest and transparent was proved “wrong” by the Apex Court, Mohapatra said that crores of public money were diverted, misappropriated and misutilised under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Though the State government had taken action against some junior officials, it shielded collectors who were actually responsible for the scam, he alleged.
Citing an instance, the BJP leader pointed out that as many as Rs 55 lakh were spent on landscaping and gardening of a district collector, purchase of vehicles for senior officials which was a clear violation of MGNREGA guidelines. .
“The State government did not take any action against the concerned collector,” he pointed out.
The State government also spent a huge public money by engaging prominent lawyers to fight case in the Supreme Court. .
“Finally, you (the State government) failed. You have no face now to claim honest,” he said.
Mr. Mohapatra pointed out that though the irregularities were first brought to light by the Delhi based Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS), the State government did not take note of its findings.
The State government then appointed Hyderabad based National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) to find truth behind allegations made by CEFS.
NIRD, which was paid Rs 25 lakh by the State government for a survey to nullify claims made by CEFS, also found massive irregularities and misappropriation of funds.
But the State government did not accept NIRD’s report, Mr. Mohapatra pointed out.
Finally, now the CBI team would arrive in the State to probe into irregularities. “This will be the first CBI probe into any incident in the State during the BJD government,” he pointed out.
