Only 3% of MGNREGS projects completed

By the end of August this year about 5,166 projects under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the state have been completed, representing only three percent achievement out of 181,759 projects assigned under this flagship programme of the Central government.

In a letter to the General Administration department, the commissioner-cum-director (special projects) of the state Panchayati Raj department has pointed out about the slow progress of MGNREGS projects in Orissa.

Though about 37 per cent of the Rs 801.13 crore allocated by the Centre and the state during April-August period has been spent till date, only 16 districts have completed 5 per cent of the projects. Four districts have completed 22 per cent of projects assigned to them while nine districts have not completed any projects yet, the letter said.

"Steps should be taken for completion of the projects,” it observed.

It may be noted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating diversion of MGNREGS funds in six districts of the state on the direction of the Supreme Court.

Four out these six districts, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Rayagada and Koraput are among the nine districts that have not completed a single project work. The other districts which are under the CBI scanner are Nuapada and Nabarangpur.

The letter said, none of the districts has submitted necessary documents from previous fiscal regarding the implementation of the scheme.

"None of the districts has submitted the Audit Report or Utilisation Certificate for the year 2010-11. They are requested to submit the same within September 30,” the commissioner cum director, Panchayat Raj department wrote.

In other schemes, such as Indira Awas Yojna, Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana, Mo Kudia, cement concrete road and backward region grant projects, the rate of completion of projects was below 30 per cent, the letter mentioned.

The commissioner cited lower expenditure and non-submission of audit reports leading to blockage of funds as key reasons for slower completion rate.