Managing director R C Gautam told the Lokayukta on Monday that the forest corporation chose Gorakhpur zila panchayat, which is headed by the minister’s wife Sadhna Singh, as the nodal agency for various civil works under the welfare scheme.

The civil works included installing hand pumps, constructing drains and paving work with interlocking bricks. While Rs 2.4 crore was released for hand pumps, Rs 1.66 crore was given for constructing drains and Rs 2 crore for brick work. But none of the works, which were to be completed within a month of the sanction, has yet been done, the Lokayukta was reportedly informed.

Under its Act, the corporation can sanction welfare schemes. The projects are generated from the divisional level and after the budget is passed by the managing board, the implementation is also done at the divisional level. However, there are not many instances in the past where the corporation has taken up such projects.

The Forest Minister’s wife was elected zila panchayat chairman in late 2010. In 2011, the Gorakhpur division of the forest corporation generated projects and sent these for approval under the welfare scheme. The minister was chairperson of the board that sanctioned the projects.