Chief Minister Raman Singh on Thursday met Panchayat representatives and received a complaint regarding corruption in the construction of Basna-Bhanwarpur-Sagarpali road in Mahasamund district.
The Chief Minister was hearing grievances of the citizens in the weekly 'Jan-Darshan' programme at his official residence here.
Singh took a serious view of the corruption complaint and instructed State Public Works Minister Rajesh Munat to look into the matter of malfeasance in the laying of WBM and tarring of roads in Mahasamund district as soon as possible.
The Chief Minister sanctioned 32 development works worth Rs 2.09 crore in various districts on memoranda from people's representatives, villagers and delegations of many institutions.
An amount of Rs 1 crore is allocated for the 'Jeerna-Sheerna' (dilapidated condition) irrigation project gate and construction of canal at village Chanwdi in North Bastar (Kanker) district. The irrigation project is 40-year-old.
Krishna Nayak, village Patel Puran Singh along with a number of villagers submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister while stating that the irrigation project had been built in 1974-75. The entire project is in a bad condition.
Singh instructed the Secretary of the Water Resources Department to sanction the amount soon as the irrigation project is of absolute necessity to farmers of the region.
Janpad Panchayat Basna member Champa Bai , Gram Panchayat Bhanwarpur Sarpanch Krishna Kumar Patel, Gram Panchayat Dhanapalli Sarpanch Kamal Patel and a number of people from the region submitted a memorandum stating that a lot of financial irregularities had taken place in the Basna-Bhanwarpur-Sagarpalli road laying works.
The 16 kilomtere long road had been laid only a year ago but due to the rains a stretch of 14 kms road had been laid waste with bath-tub size holes everywhere.
The drivers are finding it very difficult to use the roads. A lot of accidents are occurring on this stretch of the road. The quality of material used is of inferior standards. The contractors have not maintained technical standards.
Singh assured the delegation that a high-level committee will probe into the matter and those responsible for the irregularities will be dealt with sternly.
The Chief Minister also met a delegation from village Burka in Development Block Abhanpur. They complained to the Chief Minister that illegal felling of trees had been taking place on the grazing land and other places of habitation.
Singh directed the Raipur district Collector to look into the matter as early as possible.