Kakinada, Sep 30th: Union Minister of State for Defense M M Pallam Raju, who is also the Chairman of the district-level vigilance and monitoring committee for rural development programs, has advised the engineers in-charge of Panchayati Raj works and National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (NREGS) to take photos of various works using digital cameras for presenting the same in form of power point presentations at the quarterly review. ''This system will help in proper projection of the work done and also eliminate the malpractices to maximum extent. It also increases the credibility of the departments,'' Mr Pallam Raju said while reviewing the works at the first meeting of the vigilance and monitoring committee on Sept 29.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the tardy progress of Panchayat Raj road works and the irregularities crept in the implementation of NREGS works, he said the photos taken at every stage of implementation of works would ensure transparency and creates confidence among the people and wanted the officials to comply with his instructions scrupulously. The TDP MLAs Vegulla Jogeswerarao, Parvta Chittibabu, MLC Nimmakayala China Rajappa besides the PRP MLA Vanga Geeta have alleged that large-scale swindling of funds took place in NREGS works such as inflating the muster rolls and showing works execution only on paper.

They demanded the chairman to furnish the details of funds swindled and the action taken against the erring. Replying to the members, Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi said Rs 2.99 crore was misappropriated of which Rs.14.63 lakh was recovered from the erring. A total of 344 people, including one project officer and three additional project officers were summarily dismissed and action is pending against 311 people, on whom departmental enquiry was in progress.