Betanoti: Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Badashi MLA Sanatan Bijuli attended a panchayat samiti meeting in the Betanoti block of Mayurbhanj Wednesday.
Several Zilla Parishad and samiti members and sarpanchs of 24 panchayats, the BDO, the block chairperson and the vice chairperson deliberated about the execution of projects and the way the block office was functioning.
Samiti members and Sarpanchs raised a number of issues and complaints regarding their panchayats. The Union Minister asked the officials to answer the complaints.
Some public representatives said that beneficiaries of several schemes face delay in bill clearance even after completion of their projects.
On hearing the complaints, Sarangi directed BDO Jagannath Hanuman to take immediate steps to solve the problems.
The Union Minister of SMSME told the BDO, “For public knowledge, put on the notice board of the panchayat office the dates on which Junior Engineers will carry out their field and office duties. Field visits by JEs should be intimated in villages in advance.”
Laying stress on speedy disposal of work and movement of official files, Sarangi told the BDO that he should decide how long a file can be under the custody of an official.
There were complaints that the block administration is not cooperating with beneficiaries who are getting work orders for toilets in their names.
There were allegations of irregularities in Swachch Bharat Mission and inordinate delay in clearance of bills for completed toilets. Atanu Tarei, Assistant Engineer of the Betanoti RWSS, said that a team under the Executive Engineer of Baripada RWSS is looking into the complaints.
Many sarpanchs and samiti members demanded a probe by the RDC into the irregularities in Swachh Bharat Mission.
It was pointed out that 28 new beneficiaries for Antayoday scheme were picked up in Nadpur panchayat, but only eight of them were selected though panchayat resolution. A Civil Supplies officer replied to the complaint.
Some people’s representatives raised the issue of teachers’ shortage in schools of the block.
PNN