Keonjhar/Hatadihi: Another instance of alleged irregularities and misuse of funds in Keonjhar District Mineral Foundation (DMF) has come to light, with tenders reportedly being invited before projects were approved or sanctioned, a report said.
Former MLA Subarna Naik alleged that several works under the DMF have been executed without prior approval, and that a high-level probe could expose corruption among officials involved.
Anandapur Civil Society secretary Bhagaban Mallick demanded recovery of misappropriated funds and strict action against those responsible.
According to DMF case record No-17/2024, the 10th trust board had approved a budget estimate of Rs 12.89 crore for serial no-24 project.
Case record No. 43/2024 shows that administrative approval was granted twice via DMF office order no-1039, dated July 1, 2021, and order no178, dated January 11, 2023. The project was later cancelled and reapproved under DMF order no-184, dated January 12, 2023, with an administrative sanction of Rs 96.21 crore. Of this, Rs 32.28 crore in three phases was sanctioned to the District Fisheries Officer (DFO) as the implementing agency.
However, before the administrative approval and sanction, the District Fisheries officer had invited tenders for the project September 13, 2022, and signed an agreement December 20, 2022. This has been mentioned in letter no-388, dated January 29, 2025.
Similarly, the 10th Trust Board had approved an estimated cost of `50 lakh for serial no-210 project. But DMF case record no-74/2024 shows that DMF office orders no-2391 and 2392 dated October 29, 2024, sanctioned Rs 12 crore through administrative approval for the project.
The District Skill Development office, the implementing agency and the Employment Officer for the project, was sanctioned a grant of Rs 3.60 crore. However, the agreement was signed on March 16, 2024, before the project’s grant approval and sanction.
For the 352nd project on the 11th trust board’s list, an estimated expenditure of Rs 32 crore had been approved. But as per DMF order no-3256, dated October 26, 2023, administrative approval was granted for Rs 85.83 crore.
In one phase, the implementing agency, the Deputy Director of Horticulture, was sanctioned half of the grant, as recorded in DMF Case Record no-43/2024.
However, it was found that the grant sanction did not comply with the state chief secretary’s 2019 directive to follow a 30:40:30 ratio.
PNN
