Bhubaneswar, June 24 (IANS) The Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday launched an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and embezzlement of public funds in connection with the installation of LED street lighting works across several gram panchayats in the districts of Kendujhar, Nayagada and Jajpur of the state during financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The anti-corruption Vigilance launched a thorough enquiry following the receipt of reliable information in this regard.

To ensure a swift and coordinated action, the Odisha Vigilance has mobilised 24 teams comprising 81 officers, including Additional Superintendents of Police (SPs), Deputy SPs, Inspectors and other vigilance staff, in Kendujhar, Nayagada and Jajpur districts.

As many as 27 police officers have been deployed for the probe in each of these three districts.

The Vigilance officers found that the project “implementation of LED street lighting system in one village of each gram panchayat on turnkey basis, including Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC)” was launched under State Finance Commission (SFC) devolution grants (Fifth SFC).

“During enquiry, massive irregularities and violation of tender guidelines, non-installation of vital components such as energy meter, 500 metres cable, MCCB, eye hook, suspension clamp, dead end clamp and photo switch timer etc. (for each cluster consisting of 10 LED lights), and drawl of bills (showing these as installed) and misappropriation of government funds by executants, has been revealed,” the Odisha Vigilance said.

It also noted that on the spot field technical enquiries and inspections are being conducted at 50 locations in the three districts on Wednesday, to assess and compute the amount of misappropriation of government money and ascertain the involvement of government officials and executing agencies in the said project.

Speaking on the development, RTI activist Himansu Sekhar Nayak, who has been raising the issue for a long time, said, “We have repeatedly brought to the notice of the authorities the rampant corruption in the implementation of the LED streetlight installation scheme at Gram Panchayats. This is a welcome step. If the investigation is carried out properly, it is likely to unearth large-scale embezzlement of public funds.”

–IANS

gyan/khz