AZARA, Nov 11 - Allegations of graft have surfaced over misappropriation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) fund in the implementation of tree plantation scheme at Rani development block in Kamrup district.
Reliable sources said that over Rs 12 lakh was allegedly misappropriated while implementing tree-plantation scheme in as many as five gaon panchayats under Rani development block in the last two-three years. Sources revealed that the tree-plantation scheme for an amount of Rs 12 lakh was sanctioned in different areas including schools at the Gaon Panchayats of Azara, Dharapur, Garal, Kahikuchi and Mazirgaon under Rani Development block in Kamrup district. The fund was sanctioned to implement tree- plantation scheme in ten primary schools, two high schools, one public pond and on both sides of one PWD road.
It has also been learnt that Mainakhorong ME School, Barbari Primary School, under Azara GP, Pratima Baruah ME School, Dharapur-Majali Primary School under Dharapur GP, Na-Belorguri ME School and Kahikuchi GP, Lower-Mirzapur Primary School and Kendukuchi Primary school, Pub -Mazirgaon Primary School, Agchiya Primary School, Palasbari Anchalik High School under Mazirgaon GP were selected for the tree-plantation scheme. Moreover, both sides of Mazirgaon PWD roads and Mazirgaon-Thakuriapara Public Pond were also selected for the scheme. The sources also revealed that as per the scheme more than 10,000 saplings were to be planted in each school and on road-side and public pond. But practically that was not done in all the gaon panchayats, the sources said.
The local people of have alleged that the presidents and secretaries along with the responsible officials of Rani development block completed the scheme just by planting very few numbers of saplings in the areas. The people have also alleged that major portion of the sanctioned amount was misappropriated. No tree plantation is observed presently in those areas as the tree-planted areas were not properly preserved. The fund meant for tree plantation was not properly utilised, the local people alleged. They have urged the authority concerned to start a high-level probe in this regard.
