Pulled up for abysmally slow progress and poor implementation of NREGS, the district administration has served notices imposing penalties against PRI heads of over a hundred gram panchayat bodies of this coastal district.
For all practical purposes, the NREGS, has hit the roadblock in this part of the state.
The rate of execution of NREGS projects stands at the rock bottom. Of the 230 gram panchayats, the sarpanchs of as many as 112 gram panchayats have failed to open their account as far as NREGS projects are concerned, said official sources.
The NREGS funds allocated for 2008-09 year in 112 GPs are lying idle. Though plan estimate of the projects are ready, the work has failed to commence for strange reasons. The concerned sarpanchs are being held responsible for the mess and notices imposing penalties have been issued against the PRI heads.
The issuance of penalty notices is in accordance with National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, informed Kendrapara Collector, Mr. Sisirkanta Panda.
Of the Rs 2.89 crore sanctioned NREGS funds, hardly Rs 1.24 crore have been spent so far. The sarpanchs are mostly shying away from implementing NREGS as the central scheme is backed up by stringent guidelines and pilferage-proof mechanism.