Champua: Local block chairman along with samiti members of 21 panchayats Monday tendered their resignations en masse protesting the ‘monopoly’ of the local block development officer and accusing him of attempting to undermine the role of panchayat samiti members in various developmental works,
The decision by the members came as a jolt as the move came just a day before a samiti meeting. While chairman Motilal Singh Laguri sent his resignation to collector N Tirumala Nayak on the grounds of poor health and personal problems, others submitted their written resignations to block development officer (BDO) Kushal Chandra Nayak. The panchayat samiti meeting was to be held May 31. The administration expressed concern over the development while it created ripples in political circles.
Commenting on the mass resignation, BDO Nayak said development works to the tune of Rs 2.30 crore were to be undertaken in various panchayats under Gopabandhu Grameen Yojana. According to guidelines, a project under Rs 5 lakh should be implemented by a village labour leader (VLL) while government work order is issued if the cost of works exceeds the amount, the BDO said. The samiti members have resigned over the issue, he added.
The samiti members of Kalika Prasad, Bhanda, Jamudalak, Kadgadia, Jali, Jyatipur, Sadani, Sarea, Chandrasekharpur, Parshala, Kutaripashi, Badanai, Karanjia, Rangamatia, Kashipal, Rajia, Sunapashi, Uchabali and others led by Rimuli panchayat samiti member Sarathi Dehuri have resigned from their posts.
When contacted, Champua sub-collector Santosh Mishra said the BDO would be asked to hold a meeting of the members who have resigned from their posts to sort out the problem. PNN
