Bhopal: Irregularities worth over ₹100 crore in the production and distribution of take home ration (THR) have surfaced in Madhya Pradesh’s nutrition programme, according to the report of state’s accountant general.
The report a 36 page document revealed large-scale fraud, irregularities in the identification of beneficiaries, production, distribution and quality control of the ambitious free food scheme for schoolchildren along with illicit registeration of motorcycles, cars, autos and tankers as of the trucks that were claimed to have been used for transportation of rations
Highlighting the scam, Madhya Pradesh accountant general has written to the chief secretary to investigate the matter and fix the responsibility.
“Audit, therefore, recommends GoMP (government of Madhya Pradesh) to investigate these issues through an independent agency and fix the responsibility of officials at all levels — CDPOs, DPOs, plant officials, and officials who arranged for transportation, etc., and all other officials who were directly or indirectly involved in these frauds or facilitated the frauds due to their negligence at all levels, accountant said.”
The report pointed that ₹141 crore were paid in advance to the MP State Rural Livelihood Mission for establishment of seven plants, but it was not recovered. The plants manufactured THR beyond their capacity and massive difference was found between production and consumption of electricity during preparation of food. It also found fake manufacturing of THR worth ₹58 crore and suspected fake supply of 821.8 metric tonnes.
Major irregularities were found in reports of DPOS of Bhopal, Sagar and Chhindwara districts.