The State Government on Friday admitted of large scale financial irregularities in the implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the State.
Replying to a question raised by TDP MLA Ravula Chandrashekar Reddy and others during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly, MGNREGS Minister D Manikya Vara Prasad Rao said that deviations of over Rs 120 crore were found during the Social Audit conducted as on January 31 this year. Of this, an amount of Rs 48.21 crore has been determined as misappropriation. While an amount of Rs 10.88 crore has been dropped, Rs 61.54 crore is under finalisation. The government has so far recovered 17.82 crore.
The minister said that as many as 48,587 NREGS personnel have been booked for the misappropriation. Of them, 1,377 have been suspended, 12,190 were removed from services and punishment has been imposed upon 4,899 people. As many as 21,370 cases have been disposed in which 4,281 have been acquitted. While 162 FIRs have been issued in connection with funds’ misappropriation, 27,217 cases are still pending.
Manikya Vara Prasada Rao said that Social Audit was to be conducted once in six months in all villages and so far, 3,897 social audits have been conducted covering all villages three times.
The minister’s statement drew widespread condemnation from the opposition benches. TDP MLA Ravula Chandra Sekhar Reddy said that the most of the staff hired for NREGS implementation was outsourced. Therefore, no accountability could be fixed on them. He alleged that the NREGS staff was mostly Congress workers who got benefitted from the scam.
The TDP MLAs alleged that the social audit was improper due to the political interference. Demanding physical audit, the TDP MLAs said that the misappropriation could be to the tune of over Rs 1,000 crore. They also alleged that several works were sanctioned on nomination basis instead of following tender process.
Lok Satta MLA Dr Jayaprakash Narayan demanded that the matter be probed through the Standing Committee. TDP MLA P Keshava said that he could prove large scale irregularities in the NREGS works in Anantapur district. Asking the minister to accompany him for an inspection, he said he would quit the MLA’s post if proved wrong.
Replying to the opposition’s allegations, Makinkya Vara Prasad Rao said that the State Government has been maintaining transparency in the NREGS accounts. He said identification of misappropriation and recovery itself shows government’s commitment.
However, the TDP members demanded that a House Committee be constituted to probe into the matter. While the BJP and CPI MLAs protested by standing near their seats, the TDP MLAs rushed to the well and started raising slogans while surrounding the Speaker’s podium.
Speaker Nadender Manohar tried in vain to restore order and despite his repeated appeals for resuming their seats, the TDP members continued with slogan shouting. Following uproar, the Speaker adjourned the House for half-an-hour.
–INN–