MP Assy Committee to probe allegations against official

Bhopal, Mar 16 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ishwardas Rohani today announced that a soon-to-be-formed House Committee would probe grave allegations of fiscal irregularities, levelled against Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) D N Prasad.

The announcement was in the wake of accusations by the main opposition Congress, ruling BJP and other parties.

''During the official's tenure, thermal power stations' output declined, 211 rakes of coal went missing and Rs 48 crore were unrealised. In the Vidhan Sabha's previous session, an inquiry was announced but the report is awaited,'' said Mr Rohani.

Raising the matter during Question Hour, Mr Satyadev Katare (Cong) alleged that the official's appointment was also made against the rules.

Earlier, in the wake of members' repeated demands, Power Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya announced that the probe would be conducted by a secretary-level official. The members did not calm down and demanded the CMD's removal so that he would not ''influence'' the inquiry. ''Whatever the committee decides in that regard will be accepted,'' assured Mr Vijayvargiya.

Senior member and former Minister Kailash Chawla (BJP), ex-Minister Indrajit Kumar (Cong), Mr Ramlakhan Sharma (CPI-M) and others demanded the CMD's removal.

UNI