TDP alleges 4 crore scam in MEPMA

Karimnagar: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) district general secretary Nagula Bala Goud alleged that a major scam of Rs 4 crore took place in Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), which is working to eradicate poverty in towns and cities.

In a statement released here on Thursday, N Bala Goud said that MEPMA officials along with the representatives of a few major banks were reportedly involved in a scam in sanctioning loans under MEPMA. A single CO had sanctioned loans to about 43 self-help group (SHGs) societies, Rs 5 to Rs 7 lakhs to each group, violating the rules.

Even after several years, these societies hadn't paid even a single paisa towards the loan taken from the banks till date. The issue came to light when the Chief Manager of Telangana Grameena Bank wrote a letter to the officials concerned.

It was learnt that about 40 to 50 fake SHGs were created and the amount was withdrawn in the form of loans by the representatives of MEPMA conspiring with bank officials.

It was shocking to know that one SHG society had taken loan from several banks. All these fake societies took loans amounting to Rs 4 crore from about eight banks. Names of three persons came to light, who were involved in this major scam along with the names of a few government officials and banks representatives, Bala Goud pointed out.

The issue was also came to the notice of District Collector Sarfaraz Ahmed, who later ordered an enquiry. But the investigation is going on at a snail's pace even after several months, he criticised.

The TDP leader demanded the government to take immediate action against the persons, officials and the representatives of banks, who were involved in this major scam and must recover the loan amount that was sanctioned to the fake SHG societies.