Jajpur: The civil supplies department has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in transportation of food stuff including dal and rice under MDM and supplementary nutrition programme (SNP) in Jajpur between 2007 and 2016.
The probe order has come after a social activist drew attention of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, the director of the CBI, the Chief Secretary of Orissa and the Vigilance department toward large scale irregularities in food stuff transportation December 12, 2017.
On the basis of this complaint, deputy director of the food supplies and consumer welfare department, Achyutananda Pradhan in his letter-26242 December 27, 2017, had directed the Jajpur collector to probe the matter.
However, people alleged that a dal supply agency had been shown undue favour in this matter. They demanded a Vigilance probe into the irregularities.
According to reports, it was alleged that sub-standard dal was provided to MDM and SNP at higher prices. While dal was being sold for Rs 35 a kg, a tender was floated at Rs 75 a kg. When the scam came to the fore, there was a furore across the state.
The opposition parties had created a ruckus over the issue in the Assembly. Then Women and Child Development Minister Pramila Malick had to resign.
The state government had handed over the probe to the Vigilance. The investigation is on. It was learnt that the Vigilance has sought permission of the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against the officials responsible for the scam.
The supply agency Orissa Order Suppliers has submitted a bill of Rs 8 crore to the department and tried to get away with the payment. No collectors had been able to clear the bill of the supplier.
Surprisingly, an order was issued (leter-1898) to clear all pending dues of the supplier, it was learnt. There was a deal of about Rs 1 crore between then collector, ADM and the dal supplier.
Another allegation was that in 2016-17, a contractor was asked to supply rice without a tender. The district administration has issued an order to the same contractor to supply rice to 2603 Anganwadi centres in 2016-17.
The CSO is on leave. When contacted, ACSO Prahallad Sethi said he was not aware of the probe into dal irregularities. “It will be known only after CSO joins work,” he added. PNN
