‘Conduct SIT probe in MGNREGA, Nal se Jal schemes, remove minister Khabad from post': Congress writes to Gujarat governor
Stating that the 'state government's will to eradicate corruption seems to be lacking', Chavda, who was accompanied by Congress MLAs Kantibhai Kharadi, Jignesh Mevani, Shailesh Parmar, Lalit Vasoya and Amrutji Thakor, along with other party leaders, stated in the letter that there is an urgent need for the Governor's intervention.
'An SIT (Special Investigation Team) should be formed with people holding judicial positions to conduct an impartial investigation into the widespread scam of crores in the MGNREGA and Nal se Jal schemes across the state. Strict action should be taken against those involved in this scam. Therefore, it is requested to order immediate and appropriate action to prevent the open loot of public tax money to eradicate corruption,' the demand stated.
Chavda stated, 'The Congress-led UPA government enacted the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005, ensuring 100 days of employment per year. But for the last few years, the MGNREGA law in Gujarat has become (a means) to fill the coffers of office-bearers and officials with connivance of the government machinery… After our repeated written representations, question-answer sessions and debates in the assembly besides protests, the government conducted an investigation into corruption in a few villages.'
The Congress has been repeatedly alleging corruption in the MGNREGA scheme for the last few weeks. 'In the investigation of Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur talukas in Dahod district, corruption worth more than Rs 100 crore has been revealed. The direct involvement of the family of state government minister Khabad has been revealed. Even though it has been many days since the corruption came to light…, the state government is not removing him from the cabinet. By misusing his position and power, he is misleading the investigation and protecting his accomplices,' stated the letter.
A few weeks ago, two sons of Khabad, Balvantsinh and Kiran, were arrested for alleged irregularity under the MGNREGA. Khabad is the Minister of State for Panchayat in Gujarat government.
'In the remaining talukas of Dahod district, including Fatepura, Sanjeli, Jhalod, and Singvad, corruption worth crores has also taken place in MGNREGA. Bills have been paid repeatedly without doing work on the spot or (payment has been made) to ghost job cards. But despite complaints and evidence being given, no investigation has been done till date,' the letter submitted to the Governor stated.
The Congress leaders alleged similar corruption in 26 villages of Jambughoda taluka in Panchmahal.
'Not only in Dahod, Panchmahal, Narmada and Bharuch, in the entire Gujarat, corruption scam worth crores of rupees is going on with the connivance of cabinet members and senior officials in Gandhinagar by creating a systematic network in the MGNREGA scheme. There is no will in the government to stop corruption. Therefore, your intervention is urgently needed and an SIT of persons sitting on judicial and constitutional positions should be formed to investigate the corruption in MGNREGA in the entire state,' the letter addressed to the Governor stated.
Chavda has also alleged 'scam worth crores of rupees' in the 'Nal Se Jal' scheme in the state. 'Even after big announcements that the people of Gujarat will get 'Nal Se Jal' (water supply through taps) in every house, the Water Supply Department has been benefiting from the budget of crores of rupees from the tax money of the people. Despite complaints with evidence from many districts across Gujarat, no proper investigation or strict action has taken place with regard to corruption in the scheme. To protect the leaders and senior government officials, the government is taking action against lower-ranking officials,' he alleged in the statement.
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