Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Vigilance has initiated a large-scale enquiry into alleged corruption and embezzlement of government funds in the installation of LED street lighting works across Gram Panchayats in Kendujhar, Nayagarh, and Jajpur districts during 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Acting on reliable information, the Vigilance Department has deployed 24 teams comprising 81 officers, including Additional Superintendents of Police, DSPs, Inspectors, and other staff. Each district has been assigned 27 officers to ensure swift and coordinated action.
The probe 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)”, executed under the 5th State Finance Commission devolution grants.
Preliminary field enquiries have revealed serious violations, including massive irregularities and breach of tender guidelines. Several vital components for each cluster of 10 LED lights were not installed. These include energy meters, 500 metres of cable, MCCB, eye hooks, suspension clamps, dead end clamps, photo switch timers and others.
However, bills were allegedly drawn and payments released by showing these components as fully installed, leading to misappropriation of substantial government funds by executing agencies.On-the-spot technical inspections and verifications are currently underway at 50 locations across the three districts to quantify the exact amount of misappropriation and identify the roles of government officials and contractors involved.
The Vigilance teams are collecting evidence, examining records, and conducting physical verification of the installed LED lights against the claimed specifications and bills.Further action, including registration of cases and identification of accused persons, is expected once the ongoing field enquiries are completed and the quantum of loss is assessed.
