Patna,(BiharTimes): In a move to recover “ghost payments” the Bihar government has launched a special drive to verify MNREGA cards issued to 1.27 crore beneficiaries. The verification exercise would be completed by May end this year.

Replying to a short notice question of BJP MLA Sanjay Saragwi rural development minister Nitish Mishra told the state Assembly on Wednesday that during uploading of data on management information system it came to light that nearly 20 lakh job cards have been issued with different numbers and names but same name of head of the family.

According to the minister a large number of “duplicate” job cards have been detected in Muzaffarpur (97,197), Samastipur (87,934), Patna (72,058), Purnea (60,631) and Gaya (51,147).

Out of 1.27 crore job cards issued, nearly 40 to 45 lakh were not operational. In view of this discrepancy, a comprehensive verification process of job cards is under process, he told the House.

The verification of cards included perusing through statement of job details of payment made by post offices to beneficiaries. Nitish Mishra said from June this year, payment against MNREGA work would be made through bank account.