After anomalies in issue of job cards and payments to beneficiaries, it is now money spent on photographs taken for physical verification of works done under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) that is under the scanner in Uttar Pradesh. Reports received at the Department of Rural Development show that some districts in the state have spent more than Rs 1 lakh each on photography in the last financial year. With this far above the estimates by officials, the payments have not been made so far and the matter is being looked into. Photography is an integral part of implementation of the NREGS. The photographs are meant to show people working at sites, writings on walls and hoardings or banners put up for creating awareness about the scheme, and the complete work done with a board giving details. District-level officials are supposed to monitor the programme and expenses. Local officials have been told to pay Rs 15 to Rs 20 for each photograph, which is the general rate in the districts. In the event of major functions, like visits of VIPs, they can spend up to Rs 100, but such visits are rare. An expenditure of Rs 1 lakh means around 50,000 work sites, which no district has, a department official explained. Says Additional Commissioner (NREGS), Rural Development, Anurag Yadav: "Such high expense by the districts for mere physical verification is surprising. We know that photography is an important component of the NREGS, but these expenses need to be monitored. No payments will be allowed without proper monitoring and verification.' District-level officials are cagey about the photography bills. One district rural development officer says that they had to hire professional people to ensure the quality of photographs, and that more than 20 photographs were taken of each work site, which were then transferred on to a CD. In the first phase, 22 districts were covered under the NREGS in UP. Out of these 22, details are available for seven and each has spent more than Rs 1 lakh. Officials said these districts are Sitapur, Jaunpur, Barabanki, Unnao, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Pratapgarh. Reports from other districts are awaited. Some district-level officials have now suggested that village pradhans be allowed to buy digital cameras to cut photography expenses. The Additional Commissioner says the suggestion could be examined, "but if cameras are needed, then tenders will be floated'.