Vijayawada: Deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan on Monday said govt is finding it difficult to identify and punish the culprits behind NREGS irregularities due to the collusion of corrupt officials with some influential locals. He said the ‘scamsters’ resorted to irregularities in such a way that no inquiry could detect them.
“We can take stringent action against those who misappropriated NREGS funds only after we find evidence to nail the guilty,” he said.
Responding to members’ queries in the assembly, Pawan said initial probe into the NREGS irregularities which took place between 2019 and 2024 has confirmed the siphoning of at least 250 crore.
“However, subsequent investigations by the project directors at the district level recommended recovery of just 71 crore due to lack of evidence in other cases.
“I know this is a very serious issue. We ordered a probe into the scandal soon after coming to power as massive irregularities were committed during the previous regime. Funds under NREGS were pocketed by select individuals who used machinery without giving work to actual labourers seeking employment.
“Unfortunately, all groups at the village level seemed to have colluded, leaving no evidence to prove the charges,” he alleged.
He said govt is trying to prevail upon Union govt to link NREGS with agriculture in view of labour shortage and also to reduce cultivation costs.
“We can take stringent action against those who misappropriated NREGS funds only after we find evidence to nail the guilty,” he said.
Responding to members’ queries in the assembly, Pawan said initial probe into the NREGS irregularities which took place between 2019 and 2024 has confirmed the siphoning of at least 250 crore.
“However, subsequent investigations by the project directors at the district level recommended recovery of just 71 crore due to lack of evidence in other cases.
“I know this is a very serious issue. We ordered a probe into the scandal soon after coming to power as massive irregularities were committed during the previous regime. Funds under NREGS were pocketed by select individuals who used machinery without giving work to actual labourers seeking employment.
“Unfortunately, all groups at the village level seemed to have colluded, leaving no evidence to prove the charges,” he alleged.
He said govt is trying to prevail upon Union govt to link NREGS with agriculture in view of labour shortage and also to reduce cultivation costs.
