Digapahandi/Patapur: A consultancy agency has created an annoying situation in Podamari village under Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district when it deployed machines instead of labourers to renovate a pond under a Central welfare scheme.
According to a report Tuesday, the villagers were annoyed – as well as angry – when the agency had brought in machines to carry out the work under Centre-sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). Under the scheme’s norms, the agency is required to engage labourers to carry out the project work.
The matter came to the fore after villagers Ranjan Parida, Pinku Pradhan, Trilochan Muli, Ranjan Goud, Prakash Goud, Ramesh Goud, and Hadia Goud submitted a complaint to the junior engineer in this regard.
They alleged the consultancy agency is violating norms in engaging tractors and earthmovers which is a clear attempt by it to misappropriate funds under the MGNREGS.
The villagers said the block administration has sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for the project under the scheme following its approval in the panchayat in 2018-19 financial year. Out of the total funds, Rs 2 lakh has been allotted as wages for the unskilled labourers while Rs 8 lakh for purchase of construction materials like cement, sand, etc.
When contacted, junior engineer Aswini Kumar Subudhi admitted to have received the complaint. He said, he will order an inquiry and action will be taken if the charges are found true. The funds allocated towards wages will not be paid to the consultancy agency but to the labourers, he added.
PNN