Paradip, Sept. 28: The Orissa government has ordered a probe into relief disbursement to prawn dyke owners in the proposed Posco project area following allegations that some of the recipients had enrolled themselves for the benefit through “fraudulent means”.

Officials said the revenue divisional commissioner (central) had instituted the probe and notices had been issued to some of the villagers who had “manipulated documents” to substantiate their claims.

“The legality of payment of Rs 59 lakh towards members of the Dadhibaban forest committee in Nuagaon is being looked into. The sum was paid to the committee members as against acquisition of 29.5 acres of prawn dykes. The allegation is that the members were not lawfully entitled to get Rs 44 lakh of the sum as 22 acres of prawn fields did not belong to them. The records produced by them to receive the relief were allegedly fake,” said Kujang tehsildar Vasudev Pradhan.

Four committee members have been served with showcause notices and asked to reproduce the land records.

“The land records were checked while making the compensation award. We did not come across the discrepancies,” Pradhan said.

Special land acquisition officer Nrusingha Charan Swain said: “The relief payment was made on the basis of report by Kujang tehsil.”

The outfits opposing the Posco land acquisition said such fraudulent practice had been possible as the officials extended patronage it.

“As the district officials retreated from acquiring land in the face of protest from the people, a plan was devised to resume land acquisition. The forest committee members were doled out the largesse to resume the forest clearance work. The committee went on chopping down the trees in the forest as they were paid Rs 44 lakh. It was a monetary inducement given to them for clearing the forest areas,” said Bhaskar Swain, sarpanch of Nuagaon gram panchayat.