Farmer leader Gaurachandra Khamari has alleged embezzlement of Government funds in the district Watershed department and demanded a probe into it by the Vigilance.
He stated that lakhs of rupees were spent by the Watershed department of Bargarh on the pretext of taking successful farmers on a tour to Dehradun. He said while farmers alone should be taken on the tour, the people who were given the benefit were peoples’ representatives. They were sent off to the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Centre at Dehradun for training on soil and water conservation, which was an eyewash. Among the people who availed the tour facility included 34 Zilla Parisad members, 12 Block Chairmen and two departmental employees. Over Rs5.68 lakh was spent for the purpose.
Khamari alleged that even a few persons whose names are in the list who went on the tour were not included in the delegation. Sujata Pradhan, former chairperson of Bheden Block and Binodini Dharua, Zilla Parishad member of Bijepur Block, found their names in the visitors’ list but they actually did not visit. The farmer leader also alleged that inflated expenditure was shown by the department. Rs1,91,000 was spent for train ticket, Rs2,32,500 for project and Rs1,44,500 for other miscellaneous expenses, which were too much more than the actual expenses, Khamari contended. Meanwhile, district Collector Anjan Kumar Manik said an investigation was already on and action would be taken against the guilty.