In the latest case of misappropriation of MGNREGS funds, the officials of Lakhanpur block in the district created a list of ghost workers to siphon around ` five lakh sanctioned for payment of the workers’ wages.
The irregularity came to light after advocate GN Barik lodged a complaint with Jharsuguda Lokpal on the issue. According to his complaint, Rs 4,81,844 was earmarked under the Central employment scheme of MGNREGS for the excavation work in Bhejikud village under Piplikani panchayat. The work was supposed to be carried out through job card and muster roll of the workers and payments made to them through their respective accounts in the post offices.
Barik pointed out that instead of following the norms, the work was practically done with JCB machine within 10 days and the labour wages were pocketed by the officials by producing false muster rolls of the workers.
Basing on Barik’s complaint, Lokpal S Mishra has directed the district authorities to recover the money from the officials involved and take stringent action against any defaulters.
Some of the fictitious names in the muster roll are college students Srikant Behuria, Krushna Verma, physically challenged Meena Patel, Ashakarmi Rameshwari and late Jairam Tandia, Sakun Majhi and Nabaghana Bhoi.
The Lokpal has also directed to recover the amount from Lakhanpur BDO PC Bhoi, Junior Engineer JP Jena, Assistant Engineer A Minz, Sarpanch Krushna Chandra Pradhan and Panchayat Officer Surendra Majhi within one month. Collector Niranjan Sahu has been specifically instructed to take strong action to recover the money.
