Rs 700 cr fraud in Panchayati Raj Department, Barmer & Nagaur districts are highest gainers

Jaipur: When the idea of MNREGA was brought forward, it was seen as a ‘watershed’ moment for the rural population of the nation as it aimed at providing jobs to crores of unemployed individuals. But it seems in Raj, NREGA has been wrongly used to fill pockets in the name of work done on ground. First India has access to evidence denoting a whopping Rs 700 crore scam in Panchayati Raj Department in NREGA and watershed works.

This ‘work’ has been done merely in two districts of the state - Barmer and Nagaur - where money has been wasted through the overestimation of price of development works done in gram panchayats. In the investigation so far, about Rs 700 crore of corruption has come to the fore with allegations of fraud in personal benefits and water shed works under MNREGA.

Allegations also include forgery in tank construction, kettle shed, land leveling, bunding, & trench fencing along with pond construction under watershed development. The documents denote that there is alleged misappropriation of funds of State Finance Commission & Central Finance Commission in both dists for last 3 years.