CAG report exposes BJD corruption: BJP

Bhubaneswar: Six recent CAG performance audit reports have exposed widespread corruption, mismanagement, and abuse of power under the previous BJD government, said BJP spokesperson Tapan Chand on Monday. The party suggested that BJD leaders maligned the MMDR Act 2026 to shield themselves from these findings, drawing a parallel to how the BJD previously criticised the MMDR Act 2015, an act that ultimately transformed the State from a revenue deficit to a revenue surplus.

The BJP questioned why the BJD government failed to introduce mining auctions after the High Court struck down the ORISED Act in 2005. The party claimed this inaction cost Odisha Rs 17,000 crore annually, resulting in a total loss of Rs 1.70 lakh crore between 2005 and 2015.

The BJP stated that a CAG report highlights widespread mismanagement of Odisha’s District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds between 2015 and 2024. Key irregularities include implementing 757 unapproved projects in Kendujhar, losing over Rs 94 crore across four districts through improper investments, and misallocating Rs 171.79 crore for MGNREGS wages. Additionally, Sundaragada DMF irregularly spent Rs 136.77 crore on a hockey stadium, violating PMKKKY guidelines.

The 2026 CAG reports have exposed massive financial irregularities and non-compliance across multiple sectors in Odisha. The audit flagged Rs 103.35 crore surrendered due to non-utilisation and Rs 898.48 crore parked in agency accounts, alongside a staggering net loss of Rs 207.68 crore for the Eco-Retreat programme.

Additional findings revealed wasteful spending on tourism projects like the Puri PRASAD scheme, severe misallocation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKY) funds to non-affected areas, and unauthorised project implementations. With the CAG uncovering widespread mismanagement, public anger is mounting against the BJD leadership, the BJP added.

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The Hans India