Nearly a hundred of Congress activists of Ali block staged agitation in front of the Kendrapada district Collectorate here on Thursday protesting against the “large-scale corruption” in the block during the last 14 years.
The agitators alleged that corruption involving nearly Rs 100 crore has occurred in the name of various developmental projects and poverty alleviation schemes in the block. They also accused Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Pratap Keshari Deb of being involved in the corruption.
“The BDO, tehsildar and block agriculture officer often remain absent in the block headquarters. Even the executive officers of the 32 gram panchayats under the block rarely come to their offices. While the genuine beneficiaries are deprived of the Government benefits, fake and affluent persons have managed to get the benefits under the PDS, IAY and other poverty alleviation schemes,” alleged an activist.
The agitators demanded that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik order a probe into the corruption by January 30, else they would intensify the agitation in the coming days.
later, the activists led by Block Congress Committee president Pratap Jena submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through Collector Niranjan Nayak.