Express News Service
BERHAMPUR: Construction below MGNREGA in Ganjam district has come below scanner after work for a beautification and landscaping mission imagined to be sited at Digapahandi block was discovered to be carried out in Chikiti as an alternative.
Not simply the ‘misplaced’ implementation, allegations of land classification disparities too have come to the fore. According to stories, Rs 50 lakh was reportedly proven to have been spent below the scheme in Bijaylaxminarayanpur panchayat below Digapahandi block for building of mannequin pond, a hilltop park and street on the foothills.
However, the RoR of the foothill exhibits the constructions carried out on a land below the Forest division in Chikiti block. While the land measuring 1.947 hectare (ha) as per khata no-264 and plot no-1128 has reportedly been recorded as hill and constructions carried out between 2000 and 2021.
As per norms, no building ought to happen with out altering the classification of land and forest clearance. But on this case, not one of the two was executed. Contacted, forest ranger Kanhu Charan Patnaik expressed ignorance and stated: “No application was received nor submitted through his office for permission to change the classification of the land.”
Usually the panchayat workplace submits a proposal for building to the block workplace which sends it to district rural improvement authority (DRDA) for approval. After due verification, the DRDA approves the constructions and publishes the muster roll of individuals to be engaged within the constructions.
However, not one of the officers involved took be aware of the truth that the land chosen for building comes below a distinct tehsil. The then assistant engineer of Digapahandi block Gangadhar Lenka who has now been transferred to Chikiti block was supervising the initiatives.
He admitted that the development was taken up in Chikiti tehsil. “But the muster roll was prepared after the approval of projects by DRDA,” he stated. Surprisingly the current AE of Digapahandi block Susant Patnaik maintained the constructions had been made below authorities scheme so there may be nothing mistaken if the blocks get modified.
Former sarpanch of Chandapur panchayat in Chikiti block Manoj Kumar Sahu stated a Hanuman temple was supposed to come back up on the hilly land however when different constructions began, the AE was apprised however to no avail. Apart from depriving folks in Digapahandi block to work below MGNREGA, the constructions diminished the world below Chikiti block.
Former BDO of Chikiti Phalguni Majhi too feigned ignorance over the development. But Ganjam Collector Vijay Amruta Kulange stated, “It’s a matter of convergence. We will check if there are any discrepancies.”