Telkoi: Job card holders have the right to be hired for manual labour under MGNREGS, but machines are allegedly being used instead for a project being executed under the scheme in the Oria panchayat of Telkoi block in Keonjhar district.
The public here and job card holders have protested against it. They said they are forced to idle while machines are being used for an MGNREGS project, which is a violation of guidelines.
Reports said a pond was being dug using a JCB machine and that trucks and tractors were being used. The pond is being dug in a forest, they said.
The use of machines has deprived job card holders of work, locals said. They opposed this and filed a complaint with the BDO.
It is learnt that as work started, the local tehsildar seized a truck and a JCB machine as the work was being executed on forest land. The contractor hired for the work was also fined.
The contractor resumed the work with the tacit support of some block officials.
JE S Behera said the work has been halted. The complaint will be looked into and action will be taken after investigation, he added.
IANS