While the Naveen Patnaik Government has been giving much importance to the PRI members for massive development works in the panchayat level, here two PRI members had to raising funds by begging to construct a concrete road.
The incident occurred at Aul Assembly segment, the home turf of Minister of Industries, MSME and Energy Pratap Keshari Deb.
Sarpanch of Pegarapada panchayat Sradhanajali Mallick and Member Panchayat Samiti (MPS) Prabeshan Mallick under Rajkanika block were seen carrying a plastic bag begging door to door for a pucca road at Sarpabad Dandi village.
According to sources, the 650- meter Sarpabad Dandi road remains waterlogged even in a light drizzle and a population of 1,500 in the panchayat are using the road daily. Due to the swampy road, the villagers are facing several difficulties; even many of them are catching health problems like cold, fever, dysentery and dengue. Though several times, they demanded before the block administration for construction of a pucca road but it fell on deaf ear.
On August 29, a district level joint grievance cell was organized at Rajkanika block where the duo PRI members brought their demands before district Collector Amrit Ruturaj. The collector in turn had directed the Junior Engineer and AEE of Rajkanika block to visit the village and take steps for construction of the road. Later, the block
authority had directed the duo PRI members to carry out the road construction work. But all on a sudden, the Rajkanika BDO, Junior Engineer and PEO came to the spot and stopped the road construction work. But by that time, Sradhanjali and Prabeshan had spent money from heir pocket.
“Within last 24 hours, we collected Rs 10,200 from the locals for theroad construction work. If circumstances demand, we may go to the other adjoining GPs to raise money for the completion of the pucca road,” said Sarpanch Sradhanjali.
However, district Collector Ruturaj said, “Funds were not a problem for the road project. But the action plan needs to be approved in the Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha in the panchayat level with participation of Sarpanch and other ward members.”
Minister Deb stated that the Sarpanch and MPS were violating the guidelines for the road. He alleged that the Sarpanch earlier with the help of some henchmen, sent projects to the block for approval straightaway without consent of gram sabha. The Sarpanch should rectify herself before going to media, he advised.
