Odisha: Jagatsinghpur Ombudsman sends discover to officers over vanished coconut plantation 

Express News Service

JAGATSINGHPUR: A coconut tree plantation carried out in Balikuda block at an estimated Rs 43 lakh as a part of MGNREGS, has drawn consideration of Jagatsinghpur Ombudsman who on Tuesday served a present trigger on officers of Soil Conservation directorate.

Basing on complaints, Ombudsman Ramesh Chandra Behera visited Adhanga panchayat underneath Balikuda block within the district however discovered no plantation in existence.

Addressing mediapersons, Behera mentioned discover was served on assistant director, junior engineer and part officer of the Soil Conservation division after getting allegations from folks throughout his go to to the panchayat on Monday.

Sources mentioned that the Soil Conservation wing had launched the plantation drive underneath MGNREGS within the panchayat in 2020. Over 4,000 bushes have been reportedly planted alongside a 26-km stretch with a complete estimate of Rs 43.14 lakh.

In May, one Bijanjit Mohanty from Danga village of identical panchayat sought RTI info on the plantation. The question had revealed that just about 4,100 coconut bushes have been planted throughout 2020-21 of which 80 per cent bushes survived until March final 12 months. Of the sanctioned quantity, Rs 28.46 lakh had been spent in direction of this function. 

As quickly because the RTI info unfold, villagers cried foul and alleged that the entire scheme was a hoax as not a single coconut tree was planted. They additionally alleged that the quantity of Rs 28.46 lakh was misappropriated by contractors in nexus with native officers by producing false payments with none precise work. 

Following the allegations, Mohanty reportedly submitted a memorandum in Collector Parul Patwari’s workplace final week to unearth the racket however no motion has been initiated. This prompted the villagers to hunt intervention of the Ombudsman as they claimed that job card holders have been disadvantaged of labor and each day wages from the programme. 

“I had gone to Adhanga to inquire into plantation of coconut trees two years back but found no plantation in place. I have sought a reply from the authorities concerned within seven days. Action will be taken against erring officials if found guilty,” mentioned the Ombudsman. 

Contacted, assistant director of Soil Conservation Prasanna Kumar Patra mentioned the coconut planted alongside the 26-km stretch have been broken and a report on this has been submitted to the administration. “We have not received funds for second phase towards maintenance because not many trees survived,” he added.