SC asks CBI to probe scam in six districts, submit report in six months

The Supreme Court today asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in six districts of Orissa.

The apex court has directed the Central investigative agency to submit its report within six months.

The CBI has been asked to check if the operational guidelines of the Central scheme were duly complied with by the Orissa government.

In addition to this, the Supreme Court has also asked the CBI to examine the comments of the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) of India as well as National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD) and not just be guided by the NGO which conducted the survey in 100 villages of the state.

The six districts where the CBI probe will be conducted are Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput and Nabarangpur.

It may be noted that the Orissa government had given its consent to the Union ministry of rural development for a CBI probe into the irregularities in the implementation of MGNREGA in 100 villages in six districts of the state.

On the contrary, the Opposition Congress had demanded a CBI probe into such irregularities in all the 30 districts.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) called for Centre for Environment and Food Security (CEFS) had conducted a survey in 100 villages of the state and levelled allegations of improper utilization of MGNREGA funds. The NGO had alleged there was a fund diversion of around Rs 500 crore in the scheme implementation in Orissa.

While the state Panchayati Raj department had admitted to irregularities in MGNREGA implementation, it had stated that corrective steps have have been taken and action has been initiated against the errant government officials and non-officials.

"Under Section-25 of MGNREGA Act, 161 complaints have been registered and fines to the tune of Rs 1.30 lakh have been collected from the defaulting officials and non-officials.

“In addition, 263 proceedings have been initiated against the block development officers, assistant engineers, junior engineers as well as village level workers and appropriate action has been taken. In addition, 41 criminal cases involving 47 persons have also been initiated against different functionaries and recovery to the tune of Rs 17.03 lakh has been made from 146 defaulting officials and non-officials", the then Panchayati Raj minister Prafulla Samal had said last month.