Ranchi, Nov. 11: State science and technology minister Aparna Sengupta has directed the principal secretary to lodge FIRs against five NGOs for siphoning off funds meant for a rural technology park.

The government had granted Rs 6 lakh each to the NGOs and Rs 15 lakh to Ranchi-based Society of Rural Industrialisation (SRI), a body co-ordianting the programme, to set up the rural technology park and plant medicinal herbs on wasteland. The project had been initiated by former science and technology minister Samresh Singh in 2002.

The NGOs — Jan Jagran Kendra (Hazaribagh), Abhiyan Samiti and Chandan Kyari (Baliapur), Chhotanagpur Craft Centre (Lohardaga) and Vanvasi Seva Saran Sangh (Deoghar) — were to develop the park. The SRI was supposed to impart training to volunteers who would man the park.

Former science and technology secretary Rajbala Verma had first detected the irregularities. A CAG report had also pointed out misappropriation of funds. But then minister Chandra Prakash Chaudhary deferred action.

However, Aparna Sengupta has clearing instructed principal secretary Ram Sevak Sharma to lodge the FIR. Sharma said certificate cases under the public demand recovery act might also be lodged against the NGOs and SRI.

NGO and SRI officials have denied the allegation.