Opposition BJP and Congress in the State Assembly on Wednesday took a dig at the Odisha Government on the rising incidences of corruption and percentage (PC) culture in the State.
They said the Government has failed to control corruption as the PC culture has gripped the State from top to bottom.
Participating in an adjournment motion, the Opposition members cited the example of Dusmanta Kumar Dehury, Assistant Engineer of Nimapara Rural Water Sub-Division,from whose possession the Vigilance police seized disproportionate assets worth over Rs 3 crore on July 13.
Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi (BJP) said corruption has stalled the development process of the State. Though the Government claims to have adopted a zerotolerance policy towards corruption, the fact is corruption has doubled even after the Chief Minister asked the Collectors to stop the PC culture.
Majhi said corruption has helped the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) come to power five times in a row.
Pointing out that Vigilance and police officers are being trapped while taking bribes, he demanded that the Government create a separate department to check corruption.
Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja said the system is such that one is compelled to pay a PC to get his work done.His party colleague Tara Prasad Bahinipati said work ordersare given without tenders.
Replying to the debate on behalf of the Chief Minister, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari said the Government is committed to prevent corruption and has taken a number of measures to root out corruption.
He said the tender process is being done through an online e-tender process.
He said that during the last one and a half years, the Vigilance department has registered 404 criminal cases against 758 people which included 76 Group A officers. Besides, 43 Group A and 49 Group B officers have been arrested and disproportionate assets worth Rs 254.57 crore have been recovered.
Moreover, 16 employees have been dismissed from service while the Government has stopped the pension of 15 retired employees, the Minister informed.