BARGARH:The Sambalpur Vigilance Division has found massive irregularities in disbursement of funds for construction of houses under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) in 12 blocks of the district.
Illegal allotment and payment against non-existing houses have come to the notice of the Vigilance during its verification drive between June 29 and July 21.
While the Vigilance has found no discrepancies in its random verification in Barhaguda and Tora gram panchayats (GPs) of Bargarh block, four beneficiaries have not started work in Sarsara GP despite being paid 20,000 each and one in Adagaon GP.
Of the 12 cases verified in Bheden block, Vigilance has found that six beneficiaries have received first phase instalment but are yet to begin construction of houses in Icchapur and Boipur village in Manpur GP.
In Remta GP under Barpali block, three beneficiaries have received `30,000 as first instalment but are yet to start work on their houses. In Takulunda GP, one Basanti Deep has plastered the exterior of her old house reflecting it as newly constructed one and has received `60,000. The Vigilance has registered a case against Deep and Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) Kishore Sahu. In Amapatra GP, PEO Sahu has made a payment of `60,000 to one Jeheru Behera who has not constructed his house.
In Ludupali village under Ambabhona block, one Padmavati Rohidas has received `70,000 by manufacturing false bills and investigation into the matter is on. Interestingly, five beneficiaries - Gurubari Bag, Sushil Sandha, Pabitra Rana, Sari Sandha and Dilip Sandha - in Bijepur have been allotted houses under IAY twice while one Manju Meher of Bairkhapali village has been allotted house under Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana illegally. Probe into the case is underway.
In Kathaumal GP of Gaiselet block, three beneficiaries - Noita Sahu, Digri Sahu of Kandhmunda village and Rama Sahu of Turcha village - have received `55,000 each but are yet to start construction of their houses.
IAY help eludes beneficiary
Jagatsinghpur: A poor widow of Naugaon block in Jagatsinghpur district has been running from pillar to post for a house under Indira Awas Yojana (IAY). Sita Moharana of Gajrajpur village lost her husband Krushan Moharana in 2008. He had availed work order for construction of IAY house and died five days after receiving the order. The couple’s only son migrated to another State in search of work and Sita is now staying alone in a thatched, dilapidated house. Her house leaks every time it rains and Sita is apprehensive that the structure might collapse any time. Although she had sought intervention of the Nuagaon BDO to provide her funds to build a pucca house, the officer asked her to surrender Krushna’s IAY work order. She surrendered the work order last year but the block officer took no steps to issue another IAY work order in favour of Sita. She had also sought intervention of Collector on December 20 last year in this regard, but there has been no response. According to official reports, Naugaon block received a target to complete 468 IAY houses in 2016-17. Apparently, only one house has been constructed under the scheme till date. Naugaon BDO Rajivlochan Singh refused to comment on the issue. Chairman of Naugaon block Jagnnath Das said since Sita has already surrendered her husband’s work order, she might not be eligible to get another housing assistance under the scheme again. He added that as per the norm, one beneficiary in the family is eligible for IAY housing assisatnce.