The former MLA Subhash Guttedar addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI

The former MLA Subhash Guttedar has said that the authorities are digging open wells sanctioned under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme with the help of machines avoiding workers in several gram panchayats in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Guttedar said that several works for digging open wells have been sanctioned under MGNREGA scheme in villages coming under Hal Tadakal, Madan Hipparaga and Kadaganchi gram panchayats.

He said that the officials and close associates of Aland MLA B.R. Patil are involved in creating false NMRs, attendance records and work completion reports. They have dug 468 open wells in Aland taluk alone and misappropriation of funds has been estimated at ₹35 crore, Mr. Guttedar added.

Mr. Guttedar said that the use of earthmovers is prohibited as the scheme envisages employment for rural populace.

He has now set a week’s deadline for the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer demanding action against Panchayat Development Officers and others involved in swindling MGNREGA funds.

He has also threatened to launch an indefinite hunger protest outside the Zilla Panchayat office in Kalaburagi, if the authorities fail to take action against those involved.