Allegations of large-scale financial irregularities have emerged in a government research project in India's Madhya Pradesh to make cancer medicine from cow dung and cow urine. The state government spent crores of rupees on the project, which ran for nearly a decade, but serious questions have been raised about its actual research results and the transparency of its spending.

The project began in 2011 at Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur, with the aim of developing treatments for cancer and other serious diseases using a mixture of cow dung, urine and dairy products. The university initially sought Rs 8 crore, but the Madhya Pradesh government approved Rs 3.5 crore. The administration acted after allegations of widespread misuse of the funds.

Following the complaints, an inquiry was launched on the orders of the district administration. A committee led by the additional collector examined spending records from 2011 to 2018 and recently submitted its report to the collector.

The inquiry found that about Rs 1.92 crore had been shown as spent on cow dung, cow urine, raw materials, storage containers and equipment alone, several times the market rate. According to the investigators, the real cost of these items should not have exceeded Rs 15 to 20 lakh. The accounts also showed 23 to 24 plane journeys to various cities in the name of research, the need for which has been questioned.

According to the report, a car costing about Rs 7.5 lakh was bought although it was not in the approved budget. The committee also found Rs 7.5 lakh spent on fuel and car maintenance, Rs 3.5 lakh on labour and about Rs 15 lakh on furniture and electronic equipment, spending it described as straying from the project's goals.

Additional collector Raghuvar Maravi said the project was supposed to train farmers, but there were no clear records of what training had been given. Even the vehicles said to have been bought could not be located.

The university authorities have denied all the allegations. Registrar Dr S S Tomar said all purchases were made through open tenders in line with government rules and the project was regularly audited. "There has been no corruption here. All documents have been provided to the inquiry committee," he said.

The inquiry report will now be sent to the divisional commissioner, who will decide on further legal or administrative action.

The report draws on The Indian Express.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.