Irregularities noticed in MGNREGS works in Paderu

Visakhapatnam: Several irregularities, including   financial fraud were occurred in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) works in Paderu mandal in the agency.

Following this, the government has ordered for a probe into the issue. There are allegations lodged on the MGNREGS works in Paderu mandal. Tribes, NGOs and political parties complained that some of the officials, influenced by the political representatives, misled the government and earned huge amounts in the name of fake works.

Some of the agencies also lodged complaints along with evidences directly to the Central government. With this,  State government conducted a social audit in last  September and sent a report to the Commissioner, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development.

After studying the audit reports, the government finally announced that the officials of Paderu mandal in the agency have not submitted the records for the works taken up worth of Rs.4 crore. After the audit reports, the government also noticed that Rs 67 lakh fund was misused in the name of MGNREGS works in Paderu.

According to sources, some of the influential leaders in the government pressurised the officials for awarding various works under the MGNREGS. During the audits, the officials noticed that without executing works, the officials registered that the works were completed. Meanwhile, some completed old works were also shown in the records as  newly executed works, the sources said.

On the issue, District Water Management Agency, the nodal agency for the MGNREGS works, on Tuesday said that according to the service rules one of the Assistant Programme Officers was suspended. The Project Director Dayanidhi also informed that notices have been issued to the persons who were allegedly involved in the irregularities for recovery Rs one lakh and above.

The DWMA also issued notices seeking explanation from the Mandal Parishad Development Officer, Paderu on the issue. The Government has appointed Assistant Project Director, Paderu as inquiry officer to take up the further inquiries in the issue