CBI to probe alleged fund diversion in Orissa under MGNREGA

The Government of India has finally initiated action for ordering a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged irregularities committed by the Orissa government in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

"The Centre today informed the Supreme Court that it will soon ask the CBI to probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGA in Orissa. The consent to have a CBI probe has been given by the Union ministry of rural development", Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaisingh today informed a bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia.

Earlier on 16 December last year, the Supreme Court had issued a showcause notice to the Orissa government asking as to why a CBI probe should not be ordered into the alleged diversion of funds meant for implementation of MGNREGA.

It had directed the Chief Secretary of Orissa and additional secretary of the Union ministry of rural development to file a compliance report on the implementation of guidelines within three weeks.

The apex court had also asked them to file their response in the same affidavit about the CBI probe. The bench had asked the Centre and the Orissa government to inform the extent of fund released to Orissa between 2006 and 2010.

It also wanted to know whether utilisation certificate for the fund was given by the Orissa government to the Centre or not.

Subsequently, the Orissa government, on 5 January this year, had filed a 500-page response in the Supreme Court.

The state government, in its response, had stated that action has been taken against around 600 errant officials in connection with the implementation of this scheme. It had further argued that a CBI inquiry was not needed as the State Vigilance was already probing into the matter.

The apex court, however, had favoured a Central probe into the diversion of funds and non?implementation of MGNREGA in Orissa.

It had said that the allegations were of serious nature as the Centre was allocating Rs 40,000 crore annually to different state governments for implementation of MGNREGA.

The court was hearing a PIL filed in 2007 by an NGO- Centre for Environment and Food Security alleging large scale corruption in the implementation of MGNREGA.