LIIP rehab fraud: Plaints against LAO in N'pada

Allegations of fraud and corruption in payment of Rehabilitation and Resettlement  (R&R) assistance to fake Displaced Persons (DPs) are cropping up again in the Lower Indra Irrigation Project (LIIP), Khariar of Nuapada district.

 The Office of the special Land Acquisition Officer (LAO) has been in the target of the aggrieved DPs this time. According to a complaint submitted to the CM, Odisha, 5T Secretary VK Pandian and the Principal Secretary WR department by one Ramesh Chandra Pradhan and two other DPs, the office of the Special LAO has paid lakhs of rupees to fake DPs, who either physically do not exist or do not actually belong to the project affected areas.

"Kartik Harijan, Lambu Harijan and Giridhari Harijan are three such fake names, against whom R&R assistance has been disbursed. Garna Harijan, a resident of Chandopala (Colony Pada) village under Pendrawan GP, who is reported as the father of these three DPs is issueless and has already received R&R assistance long ago.

The payment has been made to one Sanju Harijan, S/o Ganesh Harijan in the name of Kartik Harijan, one of the fake DPs," stated the complainants in their petition. The other fake DPs according to the complaints are Rahul Harijan, Jagdish Harijan, Chitrasen Harijan, Kumar Harijan and Dasarath Harijan. Rahul has been shown as one of the sons of Sudarshan Harijan, who alongwith his only offspring Chitrasen have already received their assistance long ago.

Likewise, Jagdish, Chitrasen, Kumar and Dasarath have been mentioned as the offsprings of Rangin and Dala Harijan, who are issueless and have already been paid their assistance.The complaints have also alleged that, R&R payments have been made to people who do not actually belong to the affected areas, like Chintamani Ganda, D/o Munsiram who has married much before the initiation of project work in Badadohel village located outside the affected area and two of her sons, Ghasi Sagaria and Deba Sagaria have been paid R&R assistance.

Bhoibudha Bhoi, S/o Kapurchan, Manuhar and Jaldhar both S/o Bhoibudha are residents of Chandopala village of Pendrawan GP under Komna Block, who have been paid assistance as the DOs of Haripur village.The petition, which mentions about several such manipulations and corruption, has been forwarded by the Director, R&R and Ex-officio Additional Secretary to the Government, WR Department, the Collector, Nuapada, with a request to start an inquiry into the matter.