MP's 'gau mutra, gobar cancer project' funds splurged on cars, travel: Probe

JABALPUR: 'Gobar' (cow dung) and 'gau mutra' (cow urine) were meant to powerfulness a crab probe funded by MP govt, but alternatively fuelled a multi-crore scam astatine Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University successful Jabalpur. Instead of combating crab with cattle products, including milk, nether the Panchgavya probe project, the funds were allegedly splurged connected cars, aerial question and overpriced machines, an probe has found. The probe was ordered by Jabalpur territory collector Raghvendra Singh, who constituted a two-member committee led by further collector R S Marawi, pursuing complaints of misuse of the probe funds. "During preliminary scrutiny of documents, it was recovered that the probe wealth was spent connected purposes not related to the project," Marawi told TOI. Around Rs 3 lakh was spent connected aerial travel, though determination was nary grounds of research-related tours, Marawi said. "A car was purchased from the probe fund, and astir Rs 15 lakh was spent connected conveyance repairs, petrol and diesel." The committee besides recovered that astir Rs 1.75 crore was spent connected earthy materials and machines, which were procured astatine rates galore times higher than the prevailing marketplace prices.

"About Rs 15 lakh was spent connected furnishings and physics items, and astir Rs 5 lakh was paid nether different heads, each from the probe fund," Marawi said. He added that the enquiry study had been submitted to the collector, and further enactment would beryllium decided astatine the administrative level. The Panchgavya strategy was launched successful 2011 aft the authorities govt sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for probe connected warring superior diseases similar crab utilizing gobar, gau mutra and milk. The university's vice-chancellor, Mandeep Sharma, said the probe programme ended successful 2018, and claimed that method and fiscal records were approved astatine the time. "We are gathering details of the task and volition officially stock accusation with the media aft reviewing the records."