The Congress on Wednesday alleged corruption of over Rs 100 crore in Dahod district in various works under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and demanded an investigation by the Vigilance Commission in the matter. The state government, in reply, said that an inquiry by a committee of Lokpal is on and appropriate action will be taken after it is completed. The issue came up before Gujarat Assembly during the Question Hour when a starred question by senior Congress legislator and party’s leader in the House, Amit Chavda, came up for discussion. Chavda had sought to know the number of complaints of financial irregularities in works done under MGNREGA received by the state government in 2023 and 2024 in Dahod district. He also sought to know the action taken on those complaints and the scale of corruption revealed. Minister of State for Rural Development, Kunvarji Halpati, in his reply, said that the state government has received a total 27 such complaints in the last two years – 2023 and 2024 – in Dahod. As per the reply, only one complaint was found to be holding substance in which alleged irregularity worth Rs 18.41 lakh was found in a work order under MGNREGA. In that case, the reply stated, officials concerned have been sacked. In two other complaints, Halpati added, the inquiry was on. In the rest of the complaints, as per the government reply, inquiries were held and no substance was found in them. The complaints were, accordingly, disposed of. In his supplementary question, Chavda pointed out that in most of the cases, Taluka Development Officers have conducted inquiries on the complaints. “When someone, who is (alleged to be) involved in corruption, does an inquiry, how can that person do a correct inquiry?” Chavda said. “I have only one request to the minister that, in January, we have given details with evidence about corruption of more than Rs 100 crore in Devgadh Baria and Dhanpur taluka in Dahod district on affidavit. I want to ask if (the government) wants to get this (alleged) corruption of more than Rs 100 crore in Dahod district investigated by Vigilance (Commission)?” he asked. In reply, minister Halpati said, “He (Chavda) has alleged that those who did the (alleged) work are doing the inquiry. I want to inform all the members (of the House) that we have got the inquiry done by the Lokpal as well, after appointing Lokpal.” He then said, “He (Chavda) has asked for vigilance (inquiry). But an inquiry by the Lokpal Committee is still on. Once it is completed, an appropriate decision will be taken.”
