Champua: ‘Development’ has become a distant dream for villages under Champua block in Keonjhar district.
In a written memorandum to the local Block Development Officer (BDO), 11 ward members of villages under this block expressed their resentment. They stated that there was no sign of development work in the panchayat even though it was formed three years ago.
The 11 ward members visited the BDO office and submitted a memorandum to the ABDO Sarat Chandra Barik in the absence of the former. They warned of a mass demonstration in the coming days if no steps were taken to launch government development schemes in the villages.
According to the ward members, no significant developmental projects have been taken up in their villages in the last three years. Moreover, the ward members were not informed about the allocation of the sanctioned fund in various developmental works.
They further alleged massive irregularities in the developmental works like CC road, MGNREGS, road construction works, electric bulbs distribution under Ujwala Yojana, disbursement of funds under Harishchandra Yojana and BPL card distribution.
The lists of beneficiaries are finalised without proper verification as a result of which the needy are deprived of benefits and facilities, the memorandum said. Though the panchayat was formed three years ago, the signatures of the ward members were taken on plain paper i.e. without the resolution.
Locals are demanding the transfer of the GRS as he is allegedly involved in various irregularities.
When the sarpanch was contacted, he said: “There is no regular executive officer in the panchayat. We will take the developmental projects for the panchayat after the appointment of a regular panchayat executive officer.” However, ABDO Barik said that immediate steps would be taken after the inspection.
PNN