-Express News Service
The action was taken on the report on misappropriation of scheme funds submitted by Central investigation team early this year. The Central team was headed by GN Sharma, consultant, Union Ministry of Rural Development.
On Monday, AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh had led a dharna in Sonbhadra district demanding prompt action against the guilty officers.
A month back, Singh had also written to the state government, asking it to take action or face action.
Even the inquiry conducted by state quality monitor VS Chaubey last year had also found anomalies in implementation of the scheme but no concrete action was taken so far.
Sources said since no action was taken despite the submission of the Central report about five months back, the Centre had warned the state government to stop the funds to the district.
“In the past one month, we have taken action against 80 people in the district so far, which includes gram pradhans, junior engineers, technical assistants at the gram sabhas and village secretaries. While recovery notices have been issued to about 20 people, suspension of the district-level officials has been recommended to the state government,” informed a senior official of the district.
He informed the documents were sealed in Robertsganj and Ghorawal block of the district last week and on Tuesday, concerned documents were sealed in Myorpur, Babhani, Chatra and Nagwa blocks of the district.
He further said more punitive action against the guilty officers would be taken in the days to come.