MGNREGS Fund diverted for construction works not listed in guidelines

IT News
Imphal, July 5: District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Ukhrul has diverted a fund of Rs. 79 lakh mean for utilisation in Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) for construction of five trainin hall in Ukhrul district violating the guidelines of the scheme.
Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) report said that District Programme Coordinator of the scheme gave administrative approval for construction of the five training halls by using MNREGS fund beteen January 2009 and Novemebr 2012. The technical sanction or the said works was accorded by Executive Engineer, DRDA, Ukhrul. Accordingly, an amount of Rs. 79 lakhs was drawn during 2009 to November 2012 for construction of the five training hall.
The CAG report further said that this fund cannot be diverted as the construction of training hall is not permissible as according to the guideline of MNREGS.
The lists of permissible works provided in the guidelines of the MNREGS are development of water conservation, watershed development, land development, agricultural works, rural drinking water projects, rural sanitation etc. And as per a circular of the Ministry of rural development, Government of India dated March 30, 2007, civil works under MNREGS were not permissible.
The training hall constructed by diverting fund from the MNREGS are – Training Hall, Phungyar, Training hall, Kamjong, Training hall, KasomKhullen Head Quarter, Training Hall Litan an d MGNREGS training Hall Mini Secretariat complex Ukhrul. The training hall constructed at Mini Secretariat Ukhrulwas constructed with an estimated cost of rupees 35 lakh while the other four were constructed with an estimated cost of rupees 11 lakhs each.