CAG report exposes grafts in state’s MNREGA works: Cong

Raipur, April 25, 2013

Congress on Thursday said Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report at Centre had exposed grafts in Chhattisgarh’s MNREGA works. “The report has also exposed BJP government’s anti-poor face,” said Congress spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla.

“The UPA-led union government launched MNREGA to give job guarantee villagers. The project has improved condition of labourers in rural pockets. There is also a provision of unemployment allowance if registered MNREGA labourer does not get job. Unfortunately, in Chhattisgarh, labourers are not getting anticipated benefit from this project due to scams and irregularities,” he said.

“CAG has discovered massive irregularities in MNREGA works in Bastar division, especially in Kanker district which has received MNREGA award on the basis of fake figures. It has underlined that labour payment of over Rs 70 crore was given to sarpanchs in the form of cheque with an intention to embezzle the amount,” he pointed.

“From 2009-2012, cheques of Rs 35.49 crore and Rs 11.59 crore were given to sarpanchs of Narharpur and Makdi blocks under Kanker district. During the same period, cheques of Rs 11.26 crore and 11.56 crore were given to sarpanchs of Bastar and Bakawand,” he said.

“The auditor general has also objected over MNREGA funds being spent on other works in Chhattisgarh. Certainly, with an intention to do corruption the government spent MNREGA funds on those works that were beyond provisions of the project,” he said.

He alleged that the government had not appointed Lokpal in more than half the state’s districts to misuse MNREGA funds. He said MNREGA labourers in Sarguja had not received payment for the past several months. “On the contrary, payment is being done on the name of those job cardholders who have died 8-10 years back,” he added.

He further alleged that several works under MNREGA were straightaway given to contractors by government agencies and departments sans approval of panchayats and payments were done despite incomplete work. 

“The Congress has been raising grafts in MNREGA works in state for a long time. The party’s monitoring committee has toured extensively across the state and found irregularities in MNREGA works in almost all districts. Now, the CAG too report has confirmed the party allegations,” he said.