The alleged misappropriation of funds in implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in raising coffee plantations in the agency (tribal) areas of Visakhapatnam district, has drawn the attention of Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.
It was alleged that Rs 35 crore were misappropriated and the Minister, expressing shock, directed the Visakhapatnam District Collector V. Sheshadri to investigate the issue and submit a report.
The Minister said that he had launched the scheme in the agency area of the district when he was the Union Minister of State for Commerce and therefore, he was particularly concerned.
In his report, a copy of which was released to the press, the Collector informed the Minister that misappropriation of funds to the extent of Rs 51.3 lakh had been detected.
Coffee plantations
The raising of coffee plantations in the agency (tribal) areas of the eastern ghats in Visakhapatnam district was taken up under the MGNREGS from 2009-10 with an outlay of Rs 349 crore in the 11 mandals of the agency area.
Expenditure
Till date, expenditure of Rs 189 crore was approved and Rs 62.31 crore spent, stated the Collector in his report.
After five rounds of social audit and receiving objections and verifications, it was found that Rs 51.3 lakh or so was misappropriated.
The amount was recovered from the errant field-level functionaries and paid to the Girijans participating in the project and appropriate action had been taken against the field staff, the Collector informed the Minister.
sarma.rs@thehindu.co.in