MGNREGS Fund Scam: Rs 1 crore siphoned off without work execution
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 20 2012:
Over 49 lakhs of rupees sanctioned under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in respect of Khonghampat Gram Panchayat have been siphoned off without executing any works, alleged Job Card Holders Welfare Committee, Khonghampat Mayai Leikai.
Addressing a press conference in this regard at Manipur Press Club here today, Irom Manihar, President of the Committee said that 47 work programmes were allotted under MGNREGS in Khonhampat Gram Panchayat from 2008 to 2012 .
However, out of the allotted 47 work programmes, an amount of Rs 49 lakhs meant for 6 work programmes had been withdrawn without the works being executed.
Apart from this, another sum of Rs 30 lakhs and above had been withdrawn without completing the work.
This was in addition to withdrawal of a huge amount of fund provided under 12th Finance Commission.
So, altogether around 1 crore of rupees have been siphoned off, he alleged.
The matter has come to light when an RTI application was filed to know the details of the works executed under the scheme in the Gram Panchayat from 2008 to 2012 .
Though the information provided say that fund for the sanctioned works have been transferred and withdrawn already, inspection of the sites where the works were supposedly carried out showed that none of the works have been executed, Manihar informed.
Demanding handing over the amount to the respective job card holders, the Committee has also warned of taking recourse to various agitations in the event of failure.
It is said that at present there are 1004 job card holders under Khonghampat Gram Panchayat.