Money released for works without action plan: Ex-MLA

Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, he said Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer S T Anjankumar wrote to Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer of Arklagud and Assistant Executive Engineer to mention everything including cost of works in the new measurement book instead of another measurement book meant specially to maintain accounts of MNREGS works. He had directed them to record the works on Management Information System( MIS) and release the amount to the workers.

“As per rules, no officer has rights to tamper measurement book as it was an important document, but the CEO directed his subordinates to make changes in the book. In response, the assistant executive engineer Nagaraj wrote back to the CEO that he cannot alter the measurement book.

Under the MNREGS work, each Gram Panchayat receives around `  75 lakh per year after getting approval of action plan. Interestingly, `  2.29 crore works have been implemented in Santhemarur village without action plan and `  1.25 crore in Mallipattana village. “How can the officials release that much of money without any action plan, he asked.

Ramaswamy said there is prima facie evidence to prove irregularities in the implementation of MNREGS works. The Taluk panchayat executive officer who was supposed to monitor works never visited any village.

In his place, another person visited and inspected works. Even the date, timings of inspection have not been recorded. The details of attendance of job seekers had not been recorded in measurement book, but wages had been paid, he pointed out.   

Though the CEO had admitted irregularities in MNREGS in Arkalgud in his report to the government, no action has been taken against the guilty till date. Even, the CEO failed to submit the final report to the government, he claimed. Arkalgud Taluk Panchayat President Santosh, Vice-President Asha, Janardhan Gupta, Gopinath and others were present.