Rs 2.32 crore graft in Fisheries Department
The officials of Fisheries Department are found to have misused Rs 2.32 crore by submitting fabricated documents to the Government.
Funds were reserved for providing financial assistance to construct fish farm ponds in the district under the Union government’s special package to prevent farmers’ suicide. Apart from this, Fish Farming Development Authority (FFDA) also provides special assistance for the purpose. The aid is extended to farmers in the form of subsidy for construction of ponds in their lands.
A sum of Rs 1.60 crore has been shown to be spent for ponds under FFDA grants while Rs 72-lakh grant available under Vidharbha package too has been found to be misused. Government funds have been siphoned off by constructing ponds “only on record” during the period 2004-2009. Going by the official numbers, fish ponds should have been a common feature in the district.
A surprising fact is that highest number of fish ponds have been “constructed” in Arasikere taluk, where people are struggling for drinking water. The enormity of water scarcity could be gauged from the fact that unable to provide water, farmers have resorted to selling livestock in the taluk. Grants have been obtained by furnishing false documents to the effect that farmers have constructed ponds in their lands.
On the other hand, funds have been obtained by showing government-owned tanks as private property in Sakaleshpur taluk. The misdeeds came to light when the cheques issued towards subsidy were returned unpaid with objections. As many as 342 such cheques have been issued so far. It has already been 18 days since the records pertaining to embezzlement have reached the higher authorities. Action is yet awaited.
