Bhubaneswar, June 25 (UDN): The Odisha Vigilance has launched a large-scale investigation into alleged corruption and embezzlement of government funds in the implementation of LED street lighting projects in Gram Panchayats across Kendujhar, Nayagarh and Jajpur districts.
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Acting on credible inputs regarding suspected financial irregularities, the anti-corruption agency on Wednesday deployed 24 specialised teams comprising 81 officers, including Additional Superintendents of Police, Deputy Superintendents of Police, Inspectors and other personnel, to conduct simultaneous field inquiries in the three districts.
The investigation pertains to the project titled, “Implementation of LED Street Lighting System in One Village of Each Gram Panchayat on Turnkey Basis Including Comprehensive Annual Maintenance Contract (CAMC),” undertaken during the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 under the Fifth State Finance Commission devolution grants.
Preliminary inquiries have reportedly uncovered serious procedural violations and large-scale irregularities in the execution of the project. Vigilance officials suspect that several mandatory components required for every cluster of 10 LED streetlights were either partially installed or not installed at all.
These components allegedly include energy meters, electrical cables, MCCBs, eye hooks, suspension clamps, dead-end clamps and photo switch timers. Despite the alleged non-installation of these materials, executing agencies are suspected to have submitted bills claiming full completion of the works and received payments accordingly.
As part of the ongoing investigation, Vigilance teams are carrying out on-the-spot technical inspections and physical verification at nearly 50 locations across the three districts. The exercise aims to determine the exact quantum of financial loss caused to the government and identify the roles of officials, contractors and executing agencies involved in the alleged irregularities.
Officials said documentary evidence is being collected and records are being scrutinised to verify whether the installations conform to the specifications mentioned in project documents and payment bills.
The Vigilance Department is expected to initiate further legal action, including registration of criminal cases, after completion of the field inquiry and assessment of the extent of the alleged misappropriation.