Cuttack, July 1: The vigilance department has constituted a special team to probe into the alleged financial and technical irregularities by officials of the Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation.
The move has been initiated after the department had detected financial anomalies to the tune of Rs 10.28 crore in projects taken up in four districts of Kalahandi, Sonepur, Nuapada and Balangir.
A three-member team, led by a deputy superintendent rank officer, have been formed to conduct a probe into the allegations.
"There have been serious violations and financial irregularities in the construction of 38 projects in four districts from 2009 to 2014," said vigilance director K.B. Singh. These are related to the construction of police stations, fire stations and barracks.
Singh said the department had yesterday registered seven criminal cases against three officials of Bhawanipatna division for alleged misappropriation of Rs 1.56 lakh.
Three officials - joint manager Achyut Routray, junior assistant Bishnu Behera and Bhawanipatna division clerk Mahabir Das - have been accused of showing undue favours to various contractors. Payments were made on various occasions to agencies and suppliers without getting the necessary materials in advance. Routray had issued cheques to contractors and suppliers without following the standard norms.
"It has also been found that the officials have declared the under-construction projects as complete. Cases will be filed against those involved after the probe is over," Singh said.
A special audit team of the corporation and vigilance have found that fake payments amounting to Rs 1.86 lakh had been made to the labourers at M. Rampur project site. Besides, payment has also been made here without invoice, challan and receipts of materials.
There has also been a misappropriation to the tune of Rs 23.68 lakh in the Bhawanipatna division. The team has also found materials deficit amounting to Rs 22.92 lakh for the construction of 15 government quarters and office rooms.
Preliminary inquiry by the vigilance department has revealed that there has been a shortage of materials worth Rs 20.23 lakh at a project site for a 100-bed women's hostel, SDPO office-cum-residence, nine quarters at Kesinga fire station between 2012-13 and 2014-14.
Materials deficit worth Rs 51.21 lakh were found at the project site of the SDJM building at Patnagarh in Balangir, police station, fire station building and a barrack.
There has been misappropriation of Rs 12.34 lakh in various construction works, including the office and residence building of the SDPO of Titilagarh, barrack and outpost at Harishankar in Balangir.
