AGARTALA, Nov 19 (TIWN): How the state govt of Tripura would clarify itself when High Court expressed extreme displeasure for the incomplete MGNREGA works held in Tripura? Congress spokesman Ashok Sinha, lawyer Ashish Nandi and Trinamool Congress leader Arun Chandra Bhowmik, sought a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Tripura. High Court Chief Justice T. Vaiphei and Justice Subhashish Talapatra on Thursday asked the government to conduct audit in 58 blocks. However, High Court also rejected the demand for a CBI probe, and directly asked the government to conduct an audit in all 58 blocks of the state vis-a-vis MGNREGA scheme to ensure transparency.

Earlier in a letter to Principal Secretary GSG Ayyangar, Aparajita Sarangi, Joint secretary (MGNREGA) under central ministry of Rural development said that the work competition rate under MGNREGA in Tripura since its inception is 83.79 percent, but in actual it is only 36.4 percent. 

It is to be mentioned here that as per the para 10 of scheduled-I of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA says that while opening works in Public works category it shall ensured that the ongoing or incomplete works should be completed first.

However, looking actual status of the MGNREGA work the central rural ministry has ordered to pay serious attention into the matter district wise and to improve the competition work rate.

Tripura MGNREGA scam happens during the whole year. Pecharthal, Bishalgarh, Gomati Dist---not a single place can be found which to be untouched by REGA scams but  the demand for MGNREG fund will not be ended by Manik Sarkar. Huge unspent money under Khowai Dist. has once again hit the Central Govt.’s rural development schemes as atlast Govt of Tripura has agreed about massive MGNREGA scam held in the running year under Khowai Dist. 

 Last time in July 15 controversy erupted against Bishalgarh RD Block as atleast Rs. 20 lakhs in average remained unspent in every Panchayats under the subdivision. The unspent funds in Tripura swallowing by Govt. officials sparked questions on Tripura Govt.’s concern for state’s rural development. As Tripura Govt. is blaming the BJP led Central govt for slashing REGA funds, but the reason behind slashing of massive REGA funds has now come out as it’s now clear how the flood of central funds have been misused by corrupted officials of Tripura for personal gains. 

 In a letter to Khowai SDM, Zonal Development Officer, Block Development Officer, Deputy Director to Agriculture, Dist Forest Officer, the Executive Engineer of RD Division Teliamura--- it has been clearly written to refund the unspent MGNREGA fund within Oct 5, to avoid any action to be taken against them.

 With the subject of refunding the unspent amount which are lying under SGRY/ SGSY/ MGNREGA scheme it was informed to the above mentioned officers that---- “As per decision taken in the 2nd Governing body meeting held on 31.08.2016 I would like to request you to refund the unspent amount which are lying Blocks/ Panchayats/ different PIAs under SGRY/ SGSY/ MGNREGA Scheme as on the date to the office by 5th Oct, 2016 without fail or taking further course of action from our end”. The letter was signed by P Chakraborty, Project Director, ADM & Collector.

 Just before 2 months massive unspent money reported from Bishalgrah subdivision. The total number of Panchayat is 33 there. These unspent funds reflect the failure of the government to achieve the set targets as atleast Rs. 20 lakhs have remained unspent in under every Panchayats.

 Whereas state is continuously imposing pressure upon the central Govt. for fund allocation under MGNREGA, the unspent money in Bishalgarh RD Block has hit the Rural Development. It’s to be mentioned here that the central govt. has red marked REGA works lapses (FY 2015-16) and this Bishalgarh RD Block has remained under controversy consistently.

 As per the revised estimate, the government failed to spend money on almost every sector of urban and development to social welfare.

Officials like BDO Bimal Chakraborty who was suspended for  involvement and indulgence in corruption at block level in implementation of Central schemes under Rural Development is now in bail & most likely to rejoin his job, said sources. CPI-M’s closeness with corrupted officials has created such an image of Rural Development Dept. to the Central Ministry. 

 RD Principal Secretary GSG Ayyangar was more than twice warned by the Joint Secretary of Union RD Ministry Aparajita Sarangi about various lapses in MGNREGA including publishing of fake reports about working days.  In this situation, another scam at Khowai has hit the RD Dept in Tripura again after the Dist-officials had embezzled hefty amounts of Central MGNREGA funds during the current Financial Year.