HC orders probe into plunder of Bundelkhand funds

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh high court on Thursday ordered a probe into alleged siphoning off of Central funds from the Rs 3,860-crore special Bundelkhand package given to state. Jabalpur bench of high court comprising Chief Justice Ajay Khanwilkar and Justice Sanjay Yadav directed chief secretary to conduct investigations and submit report within three months. Petitioner Pawan Ghowara alleged massive corruption in execution of the project.
Detailing irregularities, the petitioner said, “On paper, five tonnes of stones were ferried on a scooter. Bikes, cars and jeeps were shown as JCB machines by forest department officials in Panna district. Goats given to farmers died within two weeks and sub-standard water pumps were distributed.” He submitted documents showing how two-wheelers were shown as having ferried hundreds of “truckloads” of construction material. Registration numbers of scooters and motorbikes were shown as “tractors and trucks” on paper and payments were made.
Minister for water resources and finance Jayant Malaiya, while addressing the Assembly in July had admitted allegations were of serious nature and those responsible will be punished after an inquiry. Bhopal: Minister for water resources and finance Jayant Malaiya had made the submission while responding to allegations levelled by Mukesh Nayak, Congress MLA from Pawai in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh. But nothing happened. Four months ago, a three-member Central team arrived in Panna district to probe the scam, following complaints by an NGO.
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s special Bundelkhand package of Rs 7,266-crore was sanctioned in 2009 for development of 13 districts of Bundelkhand region, including six districts in Madhya Pradesh, namely Chhatarpur (Rs 918 crore), Sagar (Rs 840 crore), Damoh (Rs 619 crore), Tikamgarh (Rs 503 crore), Panna (Rs 414 crore) and Datia (Rs 331 crore). The remaining seven are in Uttar Pradesh.