Patna, Feb. 7: Sending a strong message to corrupt officers, the Bihar government today dismissed six officials of the state administrative service for their alleged involvement in misappropriation of Indira Awas Yojana funds between 2006 and 2008.

“The state cabinet gave its nod to the dismissal of six block development officers (BDO) posted in Araria. They have been found involved in the misappropriation of crores of rupees meant for Indira Awas Yojana. The decision has been taken in view of the state government’s concerted efforts to fight corruption,” general administration department principal secretary Dipak Kumar told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

The BDOs dismissed from the service are Gayanand Yadav, Surendra Rai, Ashok Kumar Tiwari, Ramesh Jha, Mohmmed Parwezullah and Mohammed Shamim Akhtar.

Kumar said departmental proceedings were initiated against eight BDOs, including the Purnea east BDO then, Ram Niranjan Choudhary, and Rajesh Kumar Gupta. Choudhary was dismissed earlier, while Gupta has got a stay from the high court.

The cabinet also gave sanction for prosecution against then Araria district magistrate Amarendra Narayan Singh, found involved in the financial irregularities, Kumar said.

Departmental proceedings are going on against deputy development commissioner of the district.

Kumar said the government would take severe action against the corrupt officers and the authorities concerned had been asked to hasten the process of departmental inquiry.

In another important decision, the state cabinet gave its nod to the renovation of about 254km roads of state highways spending Rs 1,658 crore, cabinet co-ordination department principal secretary Ravikant said, adding that the roads would be renovated with the assistance of Asian Development Bank under Bihar State Highways Project.

Two-lane SH88 (Varuna bridge-Rasiyri), SH87 (Runni Saidpur-Bhiswa), SH86 (Sariya-Motipur) and SH83 (Bagi-Brbigh) would be renovated, Ravikant said.

The cabinet also approved the strengthening of 22km of Bhabhua-Sabar road with an estimated cost of Rs 23.75 crore taking loan from Nabard, he said.

The cabinet altogether took 22 decisions, including the constitution of district court at Sheohar and the creation of seven posts — one each of district and sessions judge and principal judge, two of additional district and sessions judge and three of sub-judge, Ravikant said.

It also approved the Rs 3.25 crore for the acquisition of 10 acres of land at Mauja Badgaon in Nalanda district for the construction of Nalanda Open University’s campus, he said adding that Rs 9.66 crore was sanctioned for strengthening the infrastructure in the Naxalite-affected areas of the state.