EGS men suspended for bogus enrolment

SOLAPUR, May 29: Fourteen agriculture supervisors and assistants deployed at Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) projects in Solapur district...

SOLAPUR, May 29: Fourteen agriculture supervisors and assistants deployed at Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) projects in Solapur district have been suspended for alleged bogus enrolment of workers misappropriating huge government funds.

The action ordered by Pune divisional commissioner Arun Bhatia is believed to be a fallout of inquiries ordered on the basis of social worker Anna Hazare’s corruption charges against EGS officials. Subsequent inquiry into the matter by Solapur EGS deputy collector Ashok Kakade confirmed the enrolment of bogus workers.

Names of a few famous agriculturists in Solpur figure in the list of EGS workers besides a few persons who are already dead, according to the charge-sheet. Repetition of names and measurement variations were also the common phenomenon.

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Speaking to The Indian Express about the suspensions, Solapur district collector Apurva Chandra said that the Pune divisional commissioner had directed the district EGS office to investigate into the graft allegations from Hazare.

According to the EGS department, the irregularities were found in Palsadi village nullah construction work in north Solapur along with Bhosagi and Hanjgi in Akkalkot Taluka, Watambare in Sangola, Uplayi in Madha, Bhangarde village in Malshiras and Nari village under Barshi taluka.

Among the agriculture supervisors and assistants facing actions are R S Dhavalgi, V D Sarnobat, A D Chirkekar, Kodu Bairi, M D Satpute, L N Golande, R S Kadam, N L Kale, P S Patil, S S Ghatge, Mahadev Katte and Todappa Birajdar. The fraud was being shielded by “people having good political connections,” it is alleged.