CAG to inquire NREG scheme irregularities in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Sep 17 (UNI) Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvans Singh today said CAG would inquire into the allegation of irregularities in the implementation of NREG scheme in Orissa.

Mr Singh told newspersons here that CAG was inquiring into the complaints of irregularities in the implementation of NREG schemes received from 69 districts and would submit its report in October.

The minister, who arrived here yesterday to review the performance of the centrally sponsored rural development schemes, including the NREG in ten states, said the Orissa Chief Minister had ordered an inquiry into the matter.

The inquiry, he said, is in progress and the fact would come to light after the report was received.

The Centre for Environment and Food Security, a Delhi based NGO- which conducted a survey in 100 villages in Orissa, alleged largescale irregularities in implementation of the scheme in six districts in Orissa.

CAG, the Union Minister said, has already been asked to include these complaints in the purview of its inquiry.

He said the scheme was implemented in 19 district of the state in first phase while six districts were added in 2007-08. The rest of the districts would be covered in the third phase.

The minister, however, expressed his concern over the sharp decline in the demand for work in Orissa and asked the state to look into it.

In 2006-07 as against the demand of 14.07 lakh families, 13.94 lakh families were given jobs and a sum of 733.46 crore had been utilised out of Rs 890.01 crore available for the scheme during that period.

However, in 2007-08 so far only 3.02 lakh families have demanded jobs, which showed a sharp decline as compared to last year. Out of the Rs 497 crore available, only Rs 87 crore have been utilised,the Union Minister remarked.

UNI