| MGNREGA funds swindled, alleges Panchayat member | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 29: A Panchayat representative and a few labourers in Akhnoor block went on a strike against the alleged swindling of MGNREGA funds.
Naib Sarpanch of Kotli Tanda Panchyat of Akhnoor Block alleged that under MGNREGA scheme a Check dam was built by the block for irrigation purposes in 2012, but the same is not visible on ground. “Being an elected public representative, I want my people to get benefits of the check dam so that they can irrigate their land, but the irony is that the dam does exist on ground”, he said, adding that he has taken up the matter with Block Development Office (BDO) but no one was willing to visit the spot where they have built the dam.
“Surprisingly, payment for non-existing dam has been released. According to the data available on MGNREGA website, the works of the dam have been completed, but on ground no one ever saw that dam”, he said, adding that he was fighting for same since 2012 and got an opportunity to serve the people through the electoral process.
“I’m sitting here with some labourers who completed their works in 2016-17, but the wages have not been paid till date”, he said, adding that yesterday when he tried to know when the wages would be released, officials posted in Akhnoor block told me “Tum Kal Anna, Tab Dekhein Gey,” Sarpanch Kotli Tanda, Chamel Singh when contacted said that no fictitious payment has been withdrawn, as is being claimed. “The work for the check dam was in plan, but it was never executed, this issue is being raised time and again. No payment for the work has been released till date”, he added. Depite repeated attempts BDO Akhnoor Kavita Pandoh did not pick up the phone. |
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