Row erupts over alleged corruption in MGNREGA project near Fazilka deputy commissioner’s residence

A controversy has erupted over alleged irregularities in works carried out under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in Punjab, with a lake construction project near the residence of the deputy commissioner (DC) in Fazilka coming under political scrutiny.

The project, located in Badha village, adjacent to the deputy commissioner’s residence, involves the construction of a community water harvesting lake spread over nearly two acres. According to MGNREGA records, the project of the lake was sanctioned on March 4, 2024, at a cost of Rs 4.19 crore, and work commenced on March 12, 2024. An advance payment of Rs 57.85 lakh was released on March 14, 2024.

However, the Fazilka district administration has stated that the total cost of the project is close to Rs 10 crore, and that work corresponding to the payment received so far has been limited to the construction of a boundary wall. Only a boundary wall exists at the site, even though the 12-month deadline for the completion of the project ended on March 12, 2025.

Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar visited the site on Thursday and questioned the expenditure. “This is the state of affairs. Bhagwant Mann ji, come have a look at ‘Badha Jheel’ in Fazilka. In case you can’t find it, it’s right next to the DC Fazilka residence. Rs 57 lakh from MGNREGA and Rs 61 lakh from RDF (rural development funds) have already been spent here — a total of Rs 1.20 crore. Perhaps this is the real reason the AAP Government is opposing VB-G RAM-G,” the MLA, who has been suspended by the Congress, wrote on X.

On Wednesday, state BJP president Sunil Jakhar visited the site as part of an event held at Kheo Wali Dhab in Fazilka under the party’s Jan Jagran Abhiyan on the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission-Gramin (VB-G RAM G). He is the MLA’s uncle.

He alleged, “There is a site adjacent to the residence of the Deputy Commissioner of Fazilka where crores of rupees were embezzled in the name of the old NREGA scheme to create a so-called ‘Badha Lake’. No lake exists at the site even though payments have already been made from the government treasury.”

Jakhar further claimed that the AAP Government was opposing VB-G RAM G as it aimed to curb corruption in MGNREGA works. “Contractors were being paid while workers were not getting employment. Now that this corruption is being plugged, the Government passed a resolution against VB-G RAM G in the Vidhan Sabha. In other words, VB-G RAM G is a ‘Yuddh Bhrashtachar Viruddh’,” he said.

Sunil Jakhar is addressing another public rally under the Jan Jagran Abhiyan in Jalandhar on Thursday.

According to MGNREGA records, the nature of work for the Badha project is listed as a water conservation project, with its status marked as “ongoing”. The project aims to construct community water harvesting ponds. Records show that Rs 1.18 crore has been released for the project so far. Of this, approximately Rs 4.45 lakh was spent on skilled and semi-skilled labour, Rs 10.17 lakh on unskilled workers, while the remaining amount was spent on material costs.

Sources claimed that Rs 57 lakh was paid as an advance from MGNREGA funds, while Rs 61 lakh was released under the RDF.

A BJP leader from Abohar, Ranjam Kamra, alleged violations of MGNREGA norms. “As per rules, 60 per cent of the cost of any MGNREGA project should be on the materials and 40 per cent on labour. But in many projects, more than 90 per cent of the expenditure is on materials. Contractors are paid within days or weeks, while workers wait months for wages. This is the story of old MGNREGA works, and perhaps this is why the AAP Government is unhappy with its replacement by VB-G RAM G,” he alleged.

Sunil Jakhar also hinted that scrutiny of MGNREGA files would reveal beneficiaries of the alleged irregularities, including politicians and officials.

When contacted by The Indian Express, Subash Chander, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Fazilka, said, “As per our records, the project cost is around Rs 10 crore. So far, only about Rs 56 lakh has been released, and a boundary wall has been constructed against this amount. The remaining funds were never released, which is why no further work has been carried out.”

On the alleged release of Rs 61 lakh from RDF, he added, “We have sought details to verify whether any additional payment for this project was released under any other head.”

The controversy comes amid broader allegations of irregularities in MGNREGA implementation in Punjab. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had stated on December 30 that 10,653 cases of irregularities related to the MGNREGA had been reported from the state, with no action taken in any of the cases.

On November 28, 2025, during Chouhan’s visit to Punjab to interact with MGNREGA workers, complaints regarding irregularities were submitted to him, including by workers from Fazilka. The issue continues to generate political debates, even as investigations and verifications by the district administration are underway.