BALASORE: The much hyped Rs 3,211.86 crore Nabard sponsored pilot project for augmenting farm productivity has run into rough weather with civil society groups alleging kickbacks in selection of NGOs for monitoring of farm and farmers. The District collector has written a letter to the Nabard Chairman seeking clarifications in this regard.Sources said the pilot project being implemented by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) in Odisha's Balasore district, for the first time in the country, aims at achieving increased agricultural productivity and consequent income enhancement for at least 2 lakh farmers in the coastal district.People here alleged that the Nabard local authorities have selected at least 11 NGOs much before the project was unveiled. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had unveiled the project at Baharda under Basta block of the district on occasion of Akshaya Tritiya on April 24.President of ‘Ama Baleswar’, a civil society forum, Bidhan Jena who along with his supporters staged an agitation before the district collector demanding vigilance inquiry into the alleged kickbacks and action against the erring officials, said the Nabard has selected the NGOs without inviting open tenders for the project and verifying their credentials.“As it is a project of over Rs 3200 Cr, the NGOs should be selected through an open tender. Why did the officials finalise and sign MoUs with 11 NGOs without the tender? Its fuels the suspicion about the ill intention of the officers behind it. The NGOs selected also do not have the required annual turnover to handle the project. The vigilance should conduct an inquiry and bring out the facts,” he demanded.The Krushak Jagaran Manch from Nilagiri led by former MLA Pradipta Panda also has staged a dharna before the sub-collector office demanding an inquiry into the alleged irregularities. The Manch also demanded cancelation of MoUs with the selected NGOs and a fresh selection though an open tender.As per the outlay of the Rs 3211.86 Cr project, while Rs 2626.72 Cr will be given as institutional credit followed by project assistance from Nabard Rs 48.08, other sources Rs 22.41 Cr, the participants contribution will be around Rs 514.65 Cr.It is also alleged that though district collector is the chairman of the selection committee, he was kept in dark during the selection of the NGOs for the project. Nabard Divisional Deputy Manager (DDM) Laxmidhar Dash allegedly kept the collector away from the procedures saying all have been finalised by the head office. As per the guideline, the NGOs are required to select farmers, farm lands, create awareness among them and keep them updated about various weather conditions and farming procedures. Besides the NGOs, the project will be implemented with the help of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) and State Agriculture department.While the sources at the Nabard office said the NGOs were selected in a meeting convened in this regard prior to the launching of the pilot project, DDM Laxmidhar Dash could not be contacted for comment. Meanwhile, the Nabard Bhubaneswar office has initiated an inquiry into the allegations, the sources added. Collector Akhila Bihari Ota said he has received one clarification from the Nabard chairman and expects another shortly.
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