'Irregularities' in MGNREGA implementation in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Slow pace of development work resulting in blockage of over Rs 8 crore and alleged irregularities in implementation of MGNREGA through payment of excess wages to labourers have been noticed in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district.

As against 865 works sanctioned under 13th Finance Commission, only 391 works were completed and against allotment of Rs 16.20 crore, expenditure of only Rs 7.97 crore was made and Rs 8.23 crore was blocked, a report by Accountant General (AG) has said.

The period of 13th Finance Commission is from April 2010 till March 2015.

"Scrutiny of records of zila panchayat, Rajnandgaon revealed that the progress of work is slow both at zila panchayat and janpad panchayat level," said the report, accessed by RTI activist Ajay Dubey.

The amount was allocated between 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 for development work.

The report is based on inspection of official records and documents between August 2011 and June 2013. The audit was conducted by the officials of AG, which act as a distant arm of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

The report noted excess payment to labour under MGNREGS in Rajnandgaon district. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh represents Rajnandgaon constituency in the Assembly.

On the basis of sample inspection of documents, it was found that for the period between 2011-12 and 2012-13, the government made excess payment of wages beyond the stipulated 'man days'.

Payment of wages more than what is fixed for disbursal as per 'man day' is unauthorised, the report said.