Rural Development Secretary gets HC notice

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CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Friday expressed serious displeasure over the lack of effective action by the Government in comp..

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Friday expressed serious displeasure over the lack of effective action by the Government in complying with its orders on provisioning of drinking water to the anganwadi centres in the State.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice V Gopalagowda and Justice BN Mohapatra has issued notice to Secretary, Rural Development Department, to show cause as to why action shall not be taken against him for violating the orders. Acting on a PIL alleging largescale corruption in supply of arhar dal under the midday meal programme and on the basis of the allegation that there is no drinking water facility in 9,543 anganwadi centres in the State, the court had directed to provide drinking water facility to all the centres by Juneend. The court had specifically directed that the Secretary, Rural Development, should take steps on a warfooting and sink borewells immediately.

In course of hearing and on consideration of the affidavits filed by the secretaries, RD and W CD departments, the Bench found that the steps taken were not satisfactory and issued show cause. The court has fixed the next hearing on August 30.

It was alleged that more than 100 people in Balangir district have fallen ill after drinking water from a newly sunk well.

The Vigilance Department on Friday also filed its status report submitting that five cases have been instituted against more than 20 officials of the Government and investigation is going on.