Collectors keep government in dark

BHUBANESWAR: Taking exception to jatropha plantation by Nandan Biomatrix Limited (NBL), a Hyderabad-based company, in seven districts under MGNREGS, the State Government has sought clarification from the district collectors. Keeping the Government in dark, the district collectors of Angul, Balangir, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Jharsuguda, Khurda and Sambalpur have allowed NBL for jatropha plantation over an area of 2,100 acres of degraded land. As per the guidelines provided by the Government, Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) is the implementing agency for the programme at the district level. However, OREDA has not been consulted while allowing an outside agency to take up jatropha plantation. In 2009, the Government had intimated all the district collectors that district renewable energy cell (DREC), headed by assistant director (technical) of OREDA, is the implementing agency for jatropha plantation under NREGS. ‘’This clearly indicates violation of Government guidelines on jatropha plantation under MGNREGS,’’ said a circular from SK Lohani, Commissioner (Special Project), Panchayati Raj Department, to the district collectors. The collectors of the seven districts have been asked to explain under what circumstances NBL was allowed as implementing agency for jatropha plantation under MGNREGS. The company recently intimated the Government about the jatropha plantation in the districts. Earlier known for its medicinal value, Jatropha Curacas, a fence plant, is now the most preferred bio-fuel crop which can be grown on marginal soil with little care. The plant requires little more than a year to reach fruit-bearing stage and the first year is the most labour intensive phase wherein about 106 man days are generated, official sources said. The labour cost being more than 60 per cent of the total project cost, the Government covered jatropha cultivation under MGNREGS to provide wage employment to the job-seekers. The activity provides multiple benefits to the farmers like employment in the initial phase, utilisation of wasteland and regular income from sale of jatropha seeds. As per the Government guidelines, jatropha plantation can be taken up on private land belonging by families under Scheduled categories and BPL and in Government land leased out to these categories of people. The OREDA assistant director posted in each district is responsible for receiving funds, maintaining accounts and submission of utilisation certificates.