89 labourers were able to build 1284 check dams in compartment no 415 of Bilaigarh range within two days, according to documents with the Forest department.
The documents show that Rs. 1095 was given to 28 labourers for constructing dams in one place. The same day, these labourers were also paid Rs 1100 to construct dams in another place. The same labourers working in two places at the same time hinted at irregularities.
Usually, to build so many dams requires one months’ time. If 90 labourers are put to work, it takes at least 1 hour to complete the construction,. Even if the 84 labourers worked for 8-10 hours per day, they would be able to make 10-12 dams, the report said.
“To say that mere 84 labourers conctructed 1284 dams is is false. It is impossible, IFS officers told Bhaskar.
What was more shocking is that Bhaskar tried to find the labourers residing in the village, they could not find most of them.
