Soil Conservation Department swindled Rs 243 crore: KSUPA

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Feb 16: The Krishak Sramik Unyan Parishad, Assam (KSUPA) has alleged that the State Soil Conservation Department embezzled over Rs. 243 crore that was released by the Centre against as many as 325 schemes under the IWMP. The schemes were spread in all the 27 districts of Assam. In a statement issued to the press today, the Parishad said that it had conducted a survey of the schemes on its own but found nothing concrete done on the ground. “If the total amount released against a particular scheme is Rs 10 lakh, the department spent only Rs 1 lakh and swindled the rest of the amount,” the statement said, and added: “There was gross ‘congressization’ of the committees meant for implementation of the schemes. Instead of making farmers as members of the committees, block and mandal Congress leaders were made members.” The statement further said that on September 19, 2014 the Parishad had lodged a complaint with the CID accusing Soil Conservation CEO, all district soil conservation officers and district ranger officers of embezzlement of the funds. “A  year has elapsed, but no action has been taken by the CID against the corrupt officials as yet,” the statement said. The Parishad said that it would move the Gauhati High Court if no action is taken against the corrupt officials soon.