Bhubaneswar: At a time when the Odisha government is already in the line of fire of the opposition parties over alleged COVID-19 mismanagement, the BJP on Tuesday launched a fresh attack on the ruling-BJD by alleging rampant corruption in works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Addressing media persons, State BJP general secretary, Golak Mohapatra said, "Massive irregularities and corruption in the MGNREGA works are going on in Odisha. Though the MGNREGA scheme was launched for the poor, the labour class in the State are unable to avail the benefits."
The senior BJP leader alleged that MGNREGA works are being illegally carried out late in the night by engaging machines instead of deploying labourers, and the local BJD leaders, BDOs and contractors are sharing the money among them.
"If this illegal practice is not stopped, we will stage protest at each block across Odisha," warned Mohapatra.
(BJD leaders couldn't be contacted for their comments on the allegations. The story will be updated once we get a response)
On the other hand, a Gram Rojgar Sevak (GRS) was recently removed by the Koraput district collector on charges of corruption worth lakhs of rupees in MGNREGA in Narayanpatna block amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is pertinent to mention here that the State government had in June this year announced that under the MGNREGA scheme, it will provide 20 crore workdays as it plans to dig up around 1.3 lakh ponds across the State.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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