Odisha TV: Odisha: Sunday, 11 August 2024.
An RTI query reveals over Rs
1 crore spent on VK Pandian's tours in Angul and Sambalpur, Odisha. Costs
covered helipads, barricades, and meetings. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan
announced a formal investigation into the misuse of funds.
In a startling revelation, it has been learnt that apart from the huge expenditure on former 5T Chairman VK Pandian’s whirlwind tours across Odisha through choppers, crores of rupees have also been spent from the state exchequer for the construction of helipads, barricades and meeting arrangement.
It has been found from an RTI query that more than Rs 1 crore has been spent for this purpose in Angul and Sambalpur only.
As per the response to the RTI query, crores of rupees have been spent on preparing helipads. At least two to three contractors were engaged for works and multiple billings were made.
For instance, Puspita Mangaraj was the contractor for Pandian’s public grievance hearing programme conducted at Chandeswar ground in the Tangi area of Khordha district from August 19-21, 2023. It has been revealed that Rs 4,22,000 was spent on constructing helipads and barricades in the area. Later, Rs 4,23,490 was spent on the cleaning work. Moreover, huge sums of money were also spent from the state exchequer for the programme.
Similarly, Jagabandhu Biswal was the contractor for Pandian’s programme conducted at Nachuni High School in Tangi. While Rs 4, 21, 659 was spent for barricading, Rs 4,21, 362 was spent for cleaning work for the programme.
“I was given the contracts for three programmes on an urgent basis,” said Biswal.
“We get orders from the higher authorities for the programmes. The estimate is made as per the requirements on the field and billings are done accordingly,” said Balugaon SDO of the Works Department, Santosh Kumar Sahu.
“I was surprised to find that Rs 33, 77,000 has been spent for two programmes in Nachuni only. If such a huge amount is spent for just two programmes, what could be the amount of expenditure for all the programmes conducted across Odisha! Mohan Majhi-government should carry out an investigation over the matter,” said RTI activist, Sushil Kumar Agarwal.
It has also been revealed from the RTI query that Pandian visited Sambalpur seven times in 2023 and nine times in 2024. A total of Rs 50,50,000 was spent for constructing helipads, and barricades and conducting meetings. A total of Rs 56, 21,000 and Rs 17,52,000 were spent for the same purpose in Sundargarh and Rourkela respectively during 2023-24.
“For each programme, Rs 2 to 5 lakh has been spent for preparing helipads. We have received information about the expenditures only in seven districts and it amounts to around Rs 60 lakh,” said RTI activist Pradeep Pradhan.
In response, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that a formal investigation into the matter will be launched.
“A formal investigation into VK Pandian’s visits across the State when he was in service and after resigning from the service will be launched. Stern actions will be taken against the persons who have misused the government exchequer,” said Harichandan.
However, no reactions were received from Pandian and the BJD in this regard.
In a startling revelation, it has been learnt that apart from the huge expenditure on former 5T Chairman VK Pandian’s whirlwind tours across Odisha through choppers, crores of rupees have also been spent from the state exchequer for the construction of helipads, barricades and meeting arrangement.
It has been found from an RTI query that more than Rs 1 crore has been spent for this purpose in Angul and Sambalpur only.
As per the response to the RTI query, crores of rupees have been spent on preparing helipads. At least two to three contractors were engaged for works and multiple billings were made.
For instance, Puspita Mangaraj was the contractor for Pandian’s public grievance hearing programme conducted at Chandeswar ground in the Tangi area of Khordha district from August 19-21, 2023. It has been revealed that Rs 4,22,000 was spent on constructing helipads and barricades in the area. Later, Rs 4,23,490 was spent on the cleaning work. Moreover, huge sums of money were also spent from the state exchequer for the programme.
Similarly, Jagabandhu Biswal was the contractor for Pandian’s programme conducted at Nachuni High School in Tangi. While Rs 4, 21, 659 was spent for barricading, Rs 4,21, 362 was spent for cleaning work for the programme.
“I was given the contracts for three programmes on an urgent basis,” said Biswal.
“We get orders from the higher authorities for the programmes. The estimate is made as per the requirements on the field and billings are done accordingly,” said Balugaon SDO of the Works Department, Santosh Kumar Sahu.
“I was surprised to find that Rs 33, 77,000 has been spent for two programmes in Nachuni only. If such a huge amount is spent for just two programmes, what could be the amount of expenditure for all the programmes conducted across Odisha! Mohan Majhi-government should carry out an investigation over the matter,” said RTI activist, Sushil Kumar Agarwal.
It has also been revealed from the RTI query that Pandian visited Sambalpur seven times in 2023 and nine times in 2024. A total of Rs 50,50,000 was spent for constructing helipads, and barricades and conducting meetings. A total of Rs 56, 21,000 and Rs 17,52,000 were spent for the same purpose in Sundargarh and Rourkela respectively during 2023-24.
“For each programme, Rs 2 to 5 lakh has been spent for preparing helipads. We have received information about the expenditures only in seven districts and it amounts to around Rs 60 lakh,” said RTI activist Pradeep Pradhan.
In response, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said that a formal investigation into the matter will be launched.
“A formal investigation into VK Pandian’s visits across the State when he was in service and after resigning from the service will be launched. Stern actions will be taken against the persons who have misused the government exchequer,” said Harichandan.
However, no reactions were received from Pandian and the BJD in this regard.
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