Panchayat staffers suspended for Rs 38L MGNREGS fraud

Berhampur: Kandhamal district administration suspended the additional data entry operator (ADEO) and panchayat executive officer (PEO) of Daharakote panchayat in Kotagarh block for alleged misappropriation of Rs 38 lakh without execution of projects under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The suspended officers were identified as ADEO Kansiram Digal and PEO Sutanay Mahakuda respectively.

District collector Ved Bhushan has also written to the govt to take action against the concerned junior engineer and assistant executive engineer for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of govt funds. The administration has also taken steps for action against the concerned sarpanch, bare-foot technician (BFT), among others.

Notice has been issued to all the accused for recovery of all Rs 38 lakh within a fortnight, said the collector. Further action would be taken against all of them, if they failed to deposit the same amount, he said on Monday.

The amount involved eight projects, including construction of gadwall, village ponds and roads in 2023-24 and 2024-25, sources said. Chief executive officer (CEO), Kandhamal zilla parishad, along with the officers have conducted an inquiry by visiting the spot after the district collector received the complaints about the payments being made without executing the works under the MGNREGS.

“During the recent inquiry, we found the misappropriation of around Rs 38 lakh, said Nandi. He has submitted the inquiry report to the collector for further action. Based on his inquiry report, action has been initiated against the errant officers,” he said.