Special Projects Director of the State Panchayati Raj Department NB Jawle visited Nuapada district on Saturday to conduct an inquiry on the alleged irregularities in utilisation of funds under the MGNREGS during the tenure of the then district Collector Mrinalini Darswal. Notably, the Supreme Court had ordered a CBI probe into the irregularities on the basis of a performance audit report of CAG in 2009.
The report had mentioned that an amount of `2.54 lakh was spent on landscaping and gardening work at the Collector’s residence, which is not permissible under the MGNREGS. Of this, only `9,590 was spent on payment of wages to 12 labourers for 137 man-days and the rest amount was utilised on material components like decorative and ornamental plants, coloured grass, etc, from private farms. The CBI, in its report, had recommended action against Darswal and her successor Collector Janaki Ballabh Mishra.