Lanjigarh: The panchayat office in Kankutru under this block in Koraput district has been under lock and key for the last 10 months, and developmental works are suffering as a result. This panchayat, without a proper road access, has 14 villages under its fold.
It is learnt that panchayat executive officer Ishwar Chandra Sahoo had been suspended for alleged irregularities at his previous workstation, Jobradobra. The block administration has given the charge of the panchayat to Manoj Sabar of Gunduri panchayat. However, the distance between Kankutru and Gunduri is too long for one official to frequent both places and do justice to his work. As a result, the Gunduri executive officer is yet to go to Kankutru panchayat, ignoring the order of the block administration.
With the panchayat office remaining closed for 10 months, all developmental works have come to a halt. For the last 10 months, monthly meetings had not been held. This apart, hundreds of beneficiaries are deprived of their pensions due to the closed status of the panchayat office.
The result is also that no special step has been forthcoming from the local administration against the prevailing heat wave condition. No water kiosk has been set up in public places. The residents have urged the district administration to take immediate steps to address the problems. Else, they said they would organise protests in front of the block office.