Bhubaneswar: Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Naik today said that the previous BJD government's allocation of Rs 50 lakh to each panchayat under the 'Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha' scheme will be investigated.

Speaking to reporters, Naik criticized the scheme, claiming it was not a formal program and was operated haphazardly, with work orders issued in the name of junior engineers (JEs).

"The department was unaware of who was executing the work and the extent of work completed. The secretary of the department had no information, and the irregularities within the department will be probed," Naik said.

He added that the scheme was overseen by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and block officials, with no accountability. Currently, all work under this scheme has been stopped.

"The entire operation was controlled from the top level. Work orders were issued in the name of JEs, and the scheme functioned without proper oversight. All irregularities within the department will be investigated and disclosed to the public," Naik affirmed.