ID :
196051
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 12:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/196051
The shortlink copeid
Vigilance submits status report in HC over pulses scam
Cuttack, July 20 (PTI) The Orissa Vigilance
Directorate has submitted a status report in the High Court on
its probe into the multi-crore pulses scam, saying pecuniary
advantages to the tune of nearly Rs 20 crore were made by the
Indian government officials by showing undue favours to
traders.
According to the Directorate, pecuniary advantages to
the tune of Rs 19.62 crore were made by certain government
officials by showing undue favour to private suppliers and
traders in the Indian districts of Balasore, Jajpur, Ganjam,
Mayurbhanj and Deogarh.
As a result, poor and substandard quality of pulses
were supplied during implementation of feeding schemes in
2009-10 and 2010-11, said the report submitted yesterday.
School students, children, pregnant and nursing
mothers coming under midday meal (MDM), supplementary
nutrition programme (SNP) and emergency food programme (EFP)
in these districts were provided with mould-grown and
substandard pulses, it said.
The report further said that at least one criminal
case each was registered in all these districts in which a
total of 34 accused persons were arrested ever since the
vigilance registered cases over the scam earlier this
year.
"All the arrested persons were, however, released on
bail as per orders of the High Court, the report said.
The investigating officers have also examined at least
87 witnesses and seized a total of 152 documents from all the
five districts, the report said, adding further investigation
in the cases are on.
Detailing the findings from each of these districts,
the report said samples collected from different feeding
centres were sent for laboratory tests to Bhubaneswar-based
State Drugs Management Unit.
"In most of the samples, the analytical reports said the
pulses did not confirm to the prescribed standard and were
highly infected and of poor quality due to presence of insects
in it," the report said.
The irregularities in supply of pulses was brought to
the notice of vigilance sleuths by Bari MLA Debashis Naik last
year.
The then Women and Child Development minister Pramila
Mallick resigned over the scam, the state government in India
took action against three district (Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and
Balasore) collectors.
Directorate has submitted a status report in the High Court on
its probe into the multi-crore pulses scam, saying pecuniary
advantages to the tune of nearly Rs 20 crore were made by the
Indian government officials by showing undue favours to
traders.
According to the Directorate, pecuniary advantages to
the tune of Rs 19.62 crore were made by certain government
officials by showing undue favour to private suppliers and
traders in the Indian districts of Balasore, Jajpur, Ganjam,
Mayurbhanj and Deogarh.
As a result, poor and substandard quality of pulses
were supplied during implementation of feeding schemes in
2009-10 and 2010-11, said the report submitted yesterday.
School students, children, pregnant and nursing
mothers coming under midday meal (MDM), supplementary
nutrition programme (SNP) and emergency food programme (EFP)
in these districts were provided with mould-grown and
substandard pulses, it said.
The report further said that at least one criminal
case each was registered in all these districts in which a
total of 34 accused persons were arrested ever since the
vigilance registered cases over the scam earlier this
year.
"All the arrested persons were, however, released on
bail as per orders of the High Court, the report said.
The investigating officers have also examined at least
87 witnesses and seized a total of 152 documents from all the
five districts, the report said, adding further investigation
in the cases are on.
Detailing the findings from each of these districts,
the report said samples collected from different feeding
centres were sent for laboratory tests to Bhubaneswar-based
State Drugs Management Unit.
"In most of the samples, the analytical reports said the
pulses did not confirm to the prescribed standard and were
highly infected and of poor quality due to presence of insects
in it," the report said.
The irregularities in supply of pulses was brought to
the notice of vigilance sleuths by Bari MLA Debashis Naik last
year.
The then Women and Child Development minister Pramila
Mallick resigned over the scam, the state government in India
took action against three district (Deogarh, Mayurbhanj and
Balasore) collectors.
