Money paid to beneficiaries, but houses not built: Vigilance

The anti-corruption vigilance wing of Odisha Police has detected some instances where payments have been made to beneficiaries, but no houses constructed under rural housing scheme, official sources said.
Two such instances were detected under Koraput vigilance police station and Bhubaneswar vigilance police station jurisdictions. Cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and under sections of IPC have been registered against names of public servants, said director of vigilance R P Sharma.
The case has been registered against Kedar Nath Nayak, ex-panchayat executive officer, Badakumari gram panchayat, Jethu Ram, panchayat extension officer, RR Chandrakar, welfare extension officer, all of Umarkote Block in Nabarangpur district and seven beneficiaries for misappropriation of government funds amounting to Rs 4.98 lakh by Koraput vigilance police.

Similarly, case has been registered against names of Ram Chandra Hembram, panchayat executive officer, Muninda gram panchayat, Surya Narayan Das, WEO, Delanga Block, Puri and six other beneficiaries for misappropriation of public money.
"The allegation was that the beneficiaries received the payment, but no houses were constructed under IAY Scheme. The case is pending investigation," Sharma said.
The corruption in rural housing scheme came under the purview of the vigilance wing after chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave a call to end corruption in block and gram panchayat level. The vigilance has launched a special drive in this regard since June 25.

The State Vigilance during the drive has so far registered eight criminal cases, initiated 34 open enquiries, 30 secret verifications, 25 petition enquiries and conducted 27 surprise checks against the corrupt public servants.
In all 124 instances of showing alleged undue official favour, corruption and irregularities relating to allotment of houses under different rural housing schemes, are under investigation/enquiry, Sharma said.