Bhubaneswar, March 5 -- Allegations of large-scale misappropriation of funds have surfaced from Muribahal block in Odisha's Bolangir district, where money meant for pond excavation and development works under a government scheme was allegedly siphoned off.

Villagers have alleged that lakhs of rupees were withdrawn in the name of development activities that were either repeated multiple times on official records or never executed on the ground.

The controversy has also drawn attention to the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme as "G RAM G". While the name of the scheme has reportedly been changed, locals claim that irregularities and misuse of funds under the programme continue.

Accord...