AGARTALA, April 15 (TIWN): Barely 24 hours passed after the police-public violence which took place at Pecharthal RD Block on MGNREGA non-payment issue, CPI (M) leader Goutam Das on Tuesday holding a press conference at Melarmath said, “50% of the REGA payment supposed to be cleared by Tuesday itself and the rest would be cleared after the central govt. clears the list of the REGA workers.”Das said, “No serious incident occurred across the state on delay of REGA payment except some at Pecharthal and others” However contrary to claims, Internal Audit Reports (IAR) on the accounts of the Block Development Officer of Pecharthal RD block of Unokoti District has revealed irregularity of funds worth Rs 12 crores. The IAR, which has been obtained through a RTI, also tells the names of the concerned persons who are reported to be involved as the fund disbursement authorities, as amount is not spent justifiably. Out of the entire Rs 12 crore, Rupees six crore sixty five lakhs alone has been unduly spent out of Central Sponsored Scheme (CSS) MGNREGA. Besides, non-completion and non-execution of works, recoding less value of work done and doubtful expenditure of the money looted by officials.

Not only that, one can easily assumed the motive of the implementing authorities and officials, when they make the poor job seekers do such sort of works which are not permissible under MGNREGA. The audit observations were for Financial Year 2012-13 to 2013-14.And the same had held in the period between last July 22 to August 16 of 2014. Meanwhile, The fact file of the IAR, shows that nearly Rs. 4 crore has been recovered from a single Implementing Officer (IO) only as outstanding advance.

Four TCS officers and one IAS Officer (Who is in charge of state National Rural Health Mission too) have been named by the state government’s Directorate of Audit, as the concerned and responsible authorities, under whose authoritative jurisdiction , the objectionable fund  ultilisation and/or non utilisation have occurred.  

Talking to the reporters here at the CPIM party office on Tuesday Das alleged that on Tuesday a section of REGA workers tried to create an unrest and block the road of BDO and some State Co-operative bank officials when they were moving towards Raishyabari along with the BSF scot to give the payment of REGA wages to the workers. Adding to it he said, “Some officials have been injured by the workers.”

He also said that at Gandachera some INPT workers had also tried to create an unrest on Tuesday following the Biju festival.

Das said that yet the situation has been brought under control. Talking on the issue of the police-public violence occurred at Pecharthal Block on Monday, das today said, “The workers had unnecessarily ransacked the Block office and discovered an attack on the state govt. authorities.” He also accusing the opposition in this regard said that the CPI (M) had staged a protest movement across the state.

Das accused, “the opposition had provoked such violence among the police and public at pecharthal on Monday.” Adding to it he appealed the workers not to step on any provocation by the opposition.

However it is to be mentioned here that on Monday after the incident took place at Pecharthal, RD department had appealed the REGA workers not to loose their patience. The department had also requested cooperation of all in payment of wages.

At least 20 people, including three policemen, were injured when mob attacked government and ruling CPI-M offices in Tripura and clashed with police over delay in payment of wages under the rural jobs scheme. The incident took place in Unakoti district forcing the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) to open fire to disperse the mob.“50% of REGA payment supposed to be cleared by today,” says CPI (M) leader Goutam Das.

Under Manik Sarkar's golden rule in Tripura, massive embezzlements of MGNREGA funds continue by Chief Minister's close aides like scamster BDO Bimal Chakraborty.