Orissa to follow SC orders on MGNREGA,Polavaram: Naveen

Stating that the state government was waiting for copies of the SC’s judgements on both the cases,Patnaik said the state government had tried its best to maintain transparency in implementation of the rural job scheme under the MGNREGA.

Patnaik’s comment came a day after the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it was planning to go for a CBI probe into the rural job scam under MGNREGA in Orissa.

The SC on Monday also turned down Orissa’s plea to stay construction of the controversial Polavaram dam by Andhra Pradesh and directed former Central Water Commission (CWC) member M Gopalakrishnan to inspect the project along with CWC

and submit separate reports to it.

Asked whether Orissa was isolated in the rural job scheme by the Centre’s proposed CBI probe into alleged scam,Patnaik said,”We are waiting to see copy of the court.”

Meanwhile,the sources said senior officials of the state government held a meeting to chalk out strategy on how to face the CBI probe. “As the CBI teams will visit rural areas during investigation,the government need to be prepared for it,” a senior official said.

The timing of the CBI probe had come as a major hurdle for the ruling BJD as it was preparing for panchayat polls early next year.

The ruling party also feared that the Opposition Congress and BJP could make it a major issue during the ensuing panchayat polls as the matter was related to the rural population.