RTI exposes bungling in Tractor road from Seri to Top in papers only JAMMU, Nov 7: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes (MGNREGS) which promises 100-days works for rural labourers, has become a golden goose for employees of Rural Development Department (RDD) and panchayat representative, who have been swallowing public money, depriving the rural masses from benefits of scheme. In response to an RTI application, the Rural Development Department (RDD) revealed that the tractor road from Seri to Top of panchayat Halqa Dhanoo in tehsil Udhampur district which was shown completed on papers in year 2011-2012 and funds to the tune of Rs. 3.80 lakhs have been withdrawn, was in reality constructed last month and that too by using a JCB machine, which was prohibited under the MGNREGS. However, the documents furnished by RDD revealed that fictitious muster rolls, signature of panches on completion certificates, fictitious labourers were produced for withdrawal of money from Block Development Office Udhampur. AR Mir, resident of Dhanoo revealed that all the fictitious work was done by Sarpanch Sangeet Singh along with panches and his father Numberdar Gajay Singh, who showed completion certificates of work to Block Development Officer, Udhampur and withdrew money worth Rs. 3.80 lakhs. He further claimed that when villagers resisted and made complaints against the fictitious bills withdrawn, the tractor road from Seri to Top was constructed midnight by Sarpanch using a JCB machine, only to save his own skin and some officials of BDO office, who had facilitated withdrawal of money. He further said that according to the muster rolls furnished by RDD under RTI application, astonishingly, on the same dates both father and son (Sarpanch Sangeet Singh and Nuberdar Gajay Singh) have been shown doing work at two different places, and were also shown withdrawing money. Judicial Member of Panchayat Dhanoo, Jagdish Dutt while admitting the bungling said that the road was not constructed in year 2011-12, but was completed last month and that too by using JCB machine. Sarpanch Sanjeet Singh evaded the queries. Assistant Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Pawan Parihar said that he had personally visited the site and ordered an enquiry and referred the matter to BDO Udhampur. Contrary to claims of ADC Udhampur, the BDO Udhampur, Sukriti Sharma said that the issue was with BDO Tikri and not with her. But in contrary to her ADC said that presently the jurisdiction of matter was still with BDO Udhampur. earlytimes.in/mobiledet.aspx?q=135360
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 04:36:34 +0000