The vigilance committee submitted two inquiry reports to Solanki and the Panchmahals district development officer, P Swaroop, in a marathon three-and-a-half hour session chaired by the MP.

Solanki said he has taken up the matter with the state rural development commissioner for initiating strict action against more than a dozen officials implicated in the scams.

According to the Vigilance Committee report, a sum of Rs 67 lakh were misappropriated in the last year and a half in an irrigation bucket and drum scheme under the Indira Aawas Yojana.

A third report about a housing project in Pavagadh for tourists was also pending as the DRDA has not been co-operating with the vigilance committee.

“In the bucket and drum scheme, the DRDA has mentioned the delivery of such implements to several farmers, who have actually not received anything. Also, the DRDA and the taluka panchayats overcharged the government for these implements in the account books,” Solanki said.

Rustum Sevkhani, Chairman of the Indira Awas scheme enquiry said that the DRDA and taluka panchayat officials managed to siphon off money meant for doors and windows in the scheme. “The scheme worth Rs 26,000 per house directs that Rs 2,600 is meant for the doors and windows, but the DRDA took Rs 4,500 from those who would benefit from the scheme,” Sevkhani said. He added that the DRDA had, in fact, no authority to charge the receivers of the scheme for anything.