Nuapada, Sept 25:Ex-CDVO Nuapada on Thursday was arrested by vigilance for grabbing Rs 18 lakh govt. funds sanctioned for projects under Climate Change.

The accused has been identified as Trilochan Dhal, Ex-Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) of Nuapada.

Apart from it the Odisha Vigilance has also nabbed Ashok Kumar Dau, Statistical Enumerator in the CDVO's office, for allegedly embezzling over Rs 18 lakhs of government funds under NAFCC.

The funds were allotted under the National Adaptation Funds for Climate Change (NAFCC) for the financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22. The accused misappropriated the govt funds by transferring the same to personal account instead of using them for the designated purpose, i.e. to enhance beneficiaries' livelihoods through dairy and goat farming and for environmental protection.

In this connection, a case was registered against the duo by Koraput Vigilance and they were remanded to judicial custody.