Jalandhar/Bathinda, Nov. 28 -- Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ordered an inquiry into alleged irregularities in the implementation and disbursement of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) in Punjab. Chouhan, who was on a one-day visit to Punjab, reviewed various schemes of the ministry of rural development in Jalandhar and interacted with beneficiaries at Jalandhar. Earlier, he also visited the Moga district, where he lauded the panchayat of Ransih Kalan for initiating a community-based drive to discardpaddy stubble burning by adopting in-situ disposal of the crop residue. Addressing the press conference at Jalandhar, Chouhan said he had received multiple complaints regarding the irregularities and discrepancies in MGNREGA. "It is a serious issue as the complaints regarding-fake job cards, monopoly ofthe contractors and commissioning of work through them, irregularities in works like canal cleaning without actual work and denying jobs to the eligible workers -have come to fore. Apart from other parts of the state, such complaints were mainly received from Muktsar and Fazilka districts," Chouhan said. "A central team will be sent to investigate the grievances and discrepancies in detail," said Chouhan, adding that even the state government has been directed to carry detailed inquiry. Punjab rural development and panchayat minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, who was also present in the review meeting, said "The state government has already launched an extensive crackdown on corruption, leading to the suspension of 23 officials linked to MGNREGA irregularities during previous regimes," Sond said. On the AAP government's accusation that the Rs.1,600 crore flood-relief amount has not been released, Chouhan said a sum of Rs.480 crore has been released to the state. "Funds are being released continuously and there was no dearth of funds for Punjab," he said. "In a few instances, utilisation certificates are required from the state government, and if utilisation certificates for the expenditure of 75% of the work are not given, then the following amount is not released," he said. Referring to the repair of flood-damaged houses, Chouhan said the state government had given a list of 36,000 homes for rebuilding under the PM AwasYojana. In Moga, Chouhan took stock of various social initiatives and termed the panchayat a role model for other villages across the country. The minister mentioned that the villagers here have not burnt paddy stubble for the last six kharif seasons . He lauded the 36-year-old sarpanch Preet Inder Pal Singh. Chouhan reiterated that the Centre is committed to 100% procurement of key pulses like tur, urad, and masoor at the MSP. "The Centre has rolled out a plan to buy it on MSP," he added....