Rs 20 lakh misused in 37 grampanchayats in DK under MGNREGS'

Mangalore, July 5: In a bid to recover the misused funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS), MP Nalin Kumar Kateel set a deadline of one month from Thursday, to all the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers in the district to recover the misappropriation amount.

Presiding over the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting at Netravati Hall in Zilla Panchayat on Thursday, the MP said that out of Rs 20 lakh misappropriation amount in 37 gram panchayats during the year 2011-12, an amount of Rs 7.85 has been recovered so far. The Taluk Panchayat EOs should recover the pending amount of Rs 12.15 lakh within a month, he ordered. Expressing concern over the increased in misappropriation cases in MGNREGS, he insisted the Taluk Panchayat officers to check the misuse of the grant this year.

The Executive Officers of all the five Taluk Panchayats furnished details about the utilised amount under MGNREGS labour budget last year. Accordingly, Rs 2.37 crore of the sanctioned amount of Rs 2.80 crore was utilised in Sullia taluk, Rs 2.62 crore of Rs 3.64 crore was utilised in Puttur taluk, Rs 4.05 crore of Rs 5.78 crore was utilised in Mangalore taluk, Rs 3.78 crore of Rs 4.69 crore was utilised in Belthangady taluk, while Bantwal taluk has used the amount fully. In response, the MP ordered all the TPs to make the full utilisation of the funds this year. Priority should be given to the public work rather than the individual works, he said.

The officials informed that a proposal has been submitted to develop 85 km road in the district under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Under the proposed work, the interior roads will be developed at a cost of Rs 37 crore. Of the 85 km road, six roads stretching upto 66 km will be developed.

Meanwhile, the National Highway officers said that the development of roads stretching up to 27 km has been taken up at a cost of Rs 14 crore in the district.

Of the three works, the road work from Padil to Pumpwell has been completed while two other works will be taken up after the end of monsoon. On Mani-Sampaje road development work, KRDCL officer informed that 38 km road stretching from Mani to Kavu has been completed and the pending work will be taken up after the rainy season.

“Though there were suggestions to include the contractor in the blacklist for not meeting the deadline, the legal hurdles have not allowed to take the decision,” the officers said.

The MP also insisted on fixing the loopholes in Malavoor dam using the calamity relief fund.

District Vigilance and Monitoring Standing Committee member Rajiv Shetty complained that eligible disabled people were put into trouble as the government has stopped issuing pension in the backdrop of forgery and other misappropriation cases.

The District Revenue officer clarified that pensions will be given to those who submit fresh applications. As many as 336 cases have been reinstated so far, she said.

\