Scheme for Gujarat farmers under court scanner

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court has questioned the central and state governments over alleged irregularities in implementation of a scheme for farmers in the state.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi sought the clarification over a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vikramsinh Chudasama alleging misappropriation of funds in the central government-supported Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

After admitting the PIL, the division bench issued notices Wednesday evening to the authorities and posted the matter for hearing May 3.

The petitioner alleged government officials and few heads of village councils in Ahmedabad district were involved in corrupt practices.

According to the petitioner, Rs.1.5 crore was allocated to Gujarat State Land Development Corporation Limited under RKVY for the schemes meant for farmers in villages of Ahmedabad district.

The funds were to be used for construction of ponds and small water bodies in farms and for other activities for the benefit of farmers.

The petition alleged: “The authorities have shown the dead as living, obtained false thumb impressions and forged signatures of those who are not even present in the village, and made out consent letters in their names to carry out the work.”

According to the petition, 565 of 1,150 farmers were covered by the scheme. Not all of them were given the full benefits.

The petition said a total 113 ponds were to be constructed but only 79 were actually built. The remaining 34 were never built but in records the officials showed them as completed.

Against the actual expenditure of Rs.4,150,000, the records showed the cost of construction works as Rs.5,386,000, the petition alleged.