Panchayat representatives and villagers of Ekeshwar block expressed strong opposition to the recent attachment of the block development officer to the Pauri district headquarters alleging that the action was politically motivated and carried out purportedly at the behest of four contractors with Congress backing.
The protesters have also submitted a memorandum addressed to CM Harish Rawat asking him to rescind the transfer. Placating the angry villagers, the Pauri district magistrate Chandra Shekhar Bhatt rejected their allegation stating that the transfer was part of routine functioning and would in no way affect the execution of developmental works in the Ekeshwar block.
The Ekeshwar block development officer Asha Ram Pant was attached to district headquarters which elicited strong opposition from Panchayat representatives and villagers of the area. They have alleged that Pant had been attached to the district headquarters under political pressure.They averred that political pressure from some one in the ruling party was exerted for the benefit of four contractors with links to the ruling party.
Earlier, on Tuesday the Panchayat representatives and villagers held a protest rally to the collectorate in Pauri town. They met the district magistrate to express their strong opposition to the Ekeshwar BDO’s attachment to the district HQ.
Demanding that Pant be brought back as the BDO to prevent detrimental effect on the execution of various works. In their memorandum addressed to the chief minister, the Panchayat representatives stated that Pant’s transfer was politically motivated for securing ulterior gains which has evoked strong reaction and dissatisfaction in the local communities of Ekeshwar block.
The delegation comprising block Pramukh Sudha Negi, district Panchayat member Bhagwan Singh Negi, Gram Pradhan Mahendra Singh and Dalbir Singh communicated their disagreement on the Pant’s transfer. They alleged that Pant’s transfer from the post of BDO was politically influenced.
They further pointed out that along with the Ekeshwar BDO, the Kot BDO had also been transferred. However, the Kot BDO has remained in his office whereas Pant had been attached to the district headquarters. The Panchayat representatives said that the public will “teach a lesson” to the ruling party in the 2017 Vidhan Sabha elections.