The Odisha Vigilance department on Wednesday launched an inquiry into allegations of irregularities and embezzlement of public funds relating to the installation of LED streetlights across several gram panchayats in Kendujhar, Nayagarh, and Jajpur districts during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 financial years.
The state’s anti-corruption wing launched a comprehensive probe in after receiving highly reliable intelligence in this regard.
To ensure a swift and coordinated action, the Odisha Vigilance directorate deployed 24 specialised teams consisting of 81 officers – including Additional Superintendents of Police (Asst. SPs), Deputy SPs, Inspectors, and vigilance staff – simultaneously across Kendujhar, Nayagarh, and Jajpur districts.
As many as 27 police officers have been stationed to spearhead the field investigations within each of the three targeted districts.
The Vigilance officers found that the project “implementation of LED street lighting system in one village of each gram panchayat on turnkey basis, including Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC)” was initially funded via State Finance Commission (SFC) devolution grants under the Fifth SFC.
“During enquiry, massive irregularities and violation of tender guidelines, non-installation of vital components such as energy meter, 500 metres cable, MCCB, eye hook, suspension clamp, dead end clamp and photo switch timer etc. (for each cluster consisting of 10 LED lights), and drawl of bills (showing these as installed) and misappropriation of government funds by executants, has been revealed,” the Odisha Vigilance said.
The anti-corruption bureau further noted that on-the-spot technical enquiries and field inspections were actively executed across 50 distinct locations within the three districts on Wednesday to calculate the exact volume of siphoned public funds and ascertain the involvement of government officials and executing agencies in the said project.
Speaking on the crackdown, RTI activist Himansu Sekhar Nayak, who has campaigned against the dynamic for a long period, said, “We have repeatedly brought to the notice of the authorities the rampant corruption in the implementation of the LED streetlight installation scheme at Gram Panchayats. This is a welcome step. If the investigation is carried out properly, it is likely to unearth large-scale embezzlement of public funds.”
