Protesting the alleged irregularities in distribution of PDS rice for APl, BPl and PlO Antodoya in 13 gram panchyats under Turiekela block in Banagir district, several people led by former Kantabanji MlA Santosh Singh Saluja, District Congress President Bhagabana Bagarti held a demonstration before the Balangir Collector office on Friday.
Thye alleged that a total of 6, 370 quintals PDS rice of BPl, APl and other beneficiaries of Tureikela, Muribahal and Bongomunda blocks were misappropriated by corrupt Civil Supply Officials. The total cost of the irregularities of rice would be approximately `1.5 crore.
“We had brought the matter to the notice of the district administration, but in vain,” said MlA Saluja. The agitators later submitted a memorandum to the Collector addressing it to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,
“Due to mismanagement by Panchyat officials, the rice has not been distributed among the beneficiaries. We have lodged FIRs against 32 GP functionaries,” said District Civil Supplies Officer Siba Prasad Dora.