CAG exposes rampant corruption by TMC govt during Malda floods

A report submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General to the Calcutta High Court has sparked a political row over allegations of large-scale financial irregularities in the distribution of relief funds following the 2017 Malda floods. The 678-page report, filed in response to a Public Interest Litigation, claimed that over 37 crore rupees earmarked for rebuilding damaged houses were misappropriated. Total irregularities estimated to be nearly 50 crore rupees. According to the CAG report, there were serious procedural lapses, inadequate documentation, and weak verification mechanisms in the selection of beneficiaries and disbursement of flood relief funds.In the report, the CAG reported that though damage was reported across 13 blocks, actual disbursement covered only 12 blocks.

Panchayat representatives and the Block Development Officers cited ‘missing documents’ when asked about Rs1.11 crores disbursed to 1904 people in Old Malda block. CAG found rampant corruption in the flood relief activities in Old Malda, Harishchandrapur-II, Ratua-I, Ratua-II, and Chanchal-II blocks. In one instance, a person was sent Rs5.90 crores through multiple payments. According to the CAG report, 36 Panchayat Samiti members showed that they were the owners of their houses that were damaged during the natural disaster. 72 Gram panchayat members, who received salaries from the government, took flood relief compensation by posing as victims.

The findings have triggered sharp reactions from the opposition. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s National IT Cell, alleged a systematic loot of relief funds. BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal called the report a “shame” for the state government. BJP Spokesperson K K Sharma said that based on the findings of the CAG report presented in the Calcutta High Court, a scam of 100 crore rupees linked to compensation for flood victims has come to light, which is unfortunate.

He claimed that the Harishchandrapur-2 block of Malda district, over 6 thousand 900 individuals received flood relief compensation for their damaged houses multiple times into the same bank accounts. He further alleged that an amount of seven crore rupees was disbursed to those people who had not even applied for compensation. Mr Sharma accused the Mamata Banerjee-led State government of being involved in corruption.