The general public opinion in Uttarakhand is that funds have been misused by many local bodies in the State as a result of which the desired level of development in various cities have not been facilitated yet .
In the new year, an FIR has been lodged in Police Kotwali Kotdwar against the former president of the Kotdwar municipality, executive officer and the then head accountant under section 409 of Indian Penal Code.
The district administration has taken the drastic step to lodge the FIR against those involved in the misappropriation of funds. District Magistrate Chandresh Kumar told The Pioneer that based on the complaints regarding the misuse of funds by the Kotdwar municipality, a committee was constituted under the Kotdwar sub divisional magistrate for the inquiry into the complaints.
The committee submitted its report to District Magistrate on December 18, 2013. Chandresh Kumar said that after going through the inquiry report, he directed to Superintendent of Police and SDM Kotdwar to take legal action against those involved in the misappropriation of the municipality funds.
Kotdwar Police Kotwali SHO Inspector Anil Joshi said that the FIR has been lodged by the members of the committee, constituted by the District Magistrate against the misuse of the money under section 409 of IPC. The inquiry report has also been submitted to the police.
He is the investigating officer in this case and after taking the facts of the report, the investigation will be ensured and action will be taken.
The Kotdwar SDM PS Rana said that two fogging machine were purchased at the rate of Rs1.50 lakh each whereas the market price of this machine is only Rs60,000 per unit.
These machines were bought with the Finance Commission money provided for facilitating garbage disposal. An agreement was made between an NGO Jyoti Sanstha and the municipal council in violation of the norms as the authority did not invite tenders. The machine has not yet been delivered.
The FIR has been lodged against the then president of Kotdwar municipal council Shashi Nainwal, executive officer and the then head accountant for misappropriation of funds