The elected panchayat representatives of Khariar block of Nuapada district have expressed bitter dissention on the methods of identification of projects under Ama Gaon Ama Vikash programme.
"The district administration gave an upper hand to the members of the Biju Janata Dal for identification of projects without consulting the Panchayats and those projects have been submitted by the administration to the Government for approval by the CM through video conferencing on October 5," alleged the members in a meeting held at Khariar block office on Monday in the presence of the block Chairman Balkrishna Sabar and the BDO Uttam Bag.
'This is a Government programme, but the members of the rulling party have made it their party programme," the members alleged. "If they (BJD sworkers) want to run parallel Panchayats at the behest of their party leaders what is the use of these constitutionally elected body," they asked, further alleging that the district administration has already submitted a proposal to the Government collected through BJD members for approval by the CM and the Monday's meeting was just a formality.
"The Khariar BDO is now in a catch-22 situation being unable to decide whether to accept the directions of the political bosses routed through the district Collector or to act according to his conscience obeying the rules and democratic norms," rued Samiti Member of Nehena Gram Panchayat Santosh Mishra.
The Sarpanches are now demanding that the proposals they have approved in Gram Sabha adopting Panchayat rules should be sent for approval by the CM.