Maharashtra: Probe Launched After Fake Govt Order Leads To Rs 6.94 Cr Worth Development Work In Ahilyanagar
Maharashtra probes a fake government resolution that approved ₹6.94 crore for Ahilyanagar projects. Issued before polls, it surfaced when contractors demanded payment, triggering an inquiry.
Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) The rural development department of Maharashtra government is conducting a probe into a fake GR that led to sanctioning and tendering of development works worth Rs 6.94 crore in Ahilyanagar district, some 270 kilometres from here, an official said on Monday.
The fake government resolution was issued on October 3 last year, days before the model code of conduct came into place on October 15 for the November assembly polls.
It authorised infrastructure works under budget head 2515 1238 meant for providing basic amenities to villages based on recommendations by elected representatives, the official said.
Following this, tenders were floated at the district level and 45 works were approved in Ahilyanagar, Parner, Shrigonda and Nevasa talukas there, he added.
"When contractors later approached for payment, officials at Mantralaya reviewed the file and found that no GR had been issued on that date. It turned out to be a case of forgery and cheating. Payment was immediately stopped and a departmental inquiry was ordered," the official said.
"The rural development department then issued a circular on March 28 this year directing all Zilla Parishads and Superintending Engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) to disregard the said GR and also to verify correspondence related to budget head 2515 1238 through the government's official email ID," he informed.
The March 28 circular also asked officials to remain vigilant while sanctioning works and inform higher authorities in case of doubts in GRs. It also directed them to initiate criminal proceedings if need be, he said.
The 2515 scheme of the RDD facilitates small-scale rural works such as village roads, drains, roads to cemeteries and farms (also called pandan roads), public toilets, repairs to gram panchayat offices, gymnasiums and market stalls.
"These works typically cost between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 30 lakh and are carried out through Zilla Parishads or the PWD, often based on recommendations of local MLAs. Under the scheme, works costing Rs 1500-2000 crore are undertaken annually in Maharashtra," the official said.
Incidentally, ahead of enforcement of the model code of conduct for the assembly polls last year, the state government had cleared development works worth several thousand crore rupees.
"It appears someone exploited this situation to issue a fake GR. We are yet to ascertain if such instances have taken elsewhere as well," the official said.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
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