Wednesday, June 10, 2009

MPLAD Corruption in Orissa

The former member of parliament of Kendrapada, Pravat Samantray in a clear nexus with some venal government officials and sundry Non Government Organizations (NGOs) allegedly misappropriated more than seven cores of MPLAD fund for the period of 1993 to 1994 to 2003 to 2004 as revealed in the audit report of the state government. The alleged laundering of central grants earmarked for Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) has come under scanner by the audit report of the state government in coastal Kendrapada parliamentary constituency after a social worker Gayadhar Dhal of Kendrapada has voiced the demand for probe by a the state government what he said “multi core” scam. It was mentioned in the audit report that the total irregular expenditure incurred has been found Rs77,470358.00 . The audit report also criticized the role of the district collector and district planning officer as they had clear nexus with the NGOs and MP who looted major chunks of MPLAD fund. As per the audit report , Rs.6.98 Lakh was granted to an NGO “Parivatan” of Kendrapada under MPLAD to plant 6000 trees . But during the spot verification , it was found that the NGO planted only 362 trees. Another NGO “Kartabya” got Rs.2.50 Lakh from MPLAD to plant 4575 numbers of seedlings of different varieties and 200 coconut trees But the NGO had not planted any coconut tree and planted only 1300 trees in village Narendrapur.
The audit team also found that an NGO “Parivatran” received Rs16.02 Lakhs to supply drinking water through mobile vehicles. But the NGO has been using the water tank and the vehicles for commercial purposes.
Parivartan and Rohini two NGOs got Rs24 Lakh to install High Mast Light at 40 places. The said project was recommended by the ex-MP Pravat Samantray. The audit team came to know that both the NGOs furnished fake bills . M/S Olympia of Kendrapada though a registered dealer authorized to deal with only sports and science instruments was not entitled to sell tubular poles. It was reflected in the audit report that the bills and cash memos submitted by the NGOs had been manipulated by the NGOs.
The ex- MP had also sanctioned Rs29,99,500 .00 to provide computers in educational institutions in the district. The audit team found that there was no mention about the brand name and model of the computer and other accessories the genuineness of articles were doubted. No warranty registration card against the computers supplied was found.
Another NGO “VARAT” had received Rs8,99,963.00 to build road in village Pareswarpur Adei road under Baulakani Gram Panchayat in Mahakalapada block . The road was under the jurisdiction and control of the irrigation division, Kendrapada but the work shown to have been executed without the knowledge of the concerned department and without production of supportive evidences, obviously doubted.
Another NGO ‘ROHINI “ also got eight lakh to build road from Chagharia to Ichapur . But the NGO misappropriated the total amount by not doing any work.
Many NGOs in a clear nexus with the ex-MP and government officials looted MPLAD fund by fake projects like road construction, creek irrigation projects, water supply, computer supply and other projects.

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