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Odisha KVIB mishandled Rs 58 crore in 4 years, alleges India Against Corruption, Odisha

Updated: Jun 20, 2018 09:01:13am
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Odisha KVIB mishandled Rs 58 crore in 4 years, alleges India Against Corruption, Odisha

New Delhi, June 20 (KNN) Over Rs 58 crore of funds, out of the total funds provided by Union and State government to Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board (OKVIB) during the last 4 years mishandled, claimed India Against Corruption, Odisha.

According to a media report, addressing a press conference, Malaya Kumar Tripathy of the forum alleged that Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board (OKVIB) have committed financial irregularities of over Rs 58 crore.

Detailing the facts and figures, he said that the State Government had given Rs 8.29 crore to the Khadi Board for promoting honey bee farming during the last four years as stated by MSME Minister Prafulla Samal in the State Assembly.

But as per Board Chairman Tejeswar Parida’s statement, Rs 10 lakh has been spent for providing training to 1,200 bee-keepers and providing 2,400 bee-boxes to 480 farmers.

“If figures of the Minister and Parida are correct, then where is Rs 8.19 crore now,” said Tripathy.

He further alleged that a bee-box costs around Rs 1,000 while the board has shown the cost at Rs 30,000 per box.

Similarly, Rs 8,000 has been mentioned to be spent for providing training to each farmer while Rs 500 to Rs 700 is spent in reality, Tripathy claimed.

Highlighting the differences in actual fund provided and actual amount spent, Tripathy said that the State Government has provided Rs 39.94 crore and the Union Government has provided 46.28 crore, totaling Rs 86.22 crore, during the last four years.

While of this, Rs 26.93 crore has been spent towards salary, Rs 35 lakh for purchase of looms and thread, Rs 20 lakh for holding exhibitions and Rs10 lakh for holding training to bee-keepers and providing bee-boxes to them, record for the rest amount of Rs 58.64 crore is now unavailable, he added.

He openly alleged that the Board Chairman and some officers have looted away the money by making false bills in the names of unscrupulous ad agencies and consultancies.

In this regard, he demanded a vigilance inquiry to be conducted to the alleged irregularities and Chairman Tejeswar Parida be removed soon.

If these demands are not met soon, the forum would intensify its agitation in coming days, threatened Tripathy, according to the report.

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