Bhubaneswar: Following allegations of large-scale irregularities in construction of toilets in Bhatapada panchayat of Chandipur block in Bhadrak district, the Panchayati Raj department has asked the block administration to probe the matter.
According to sources, the block administration had reportedly made all the villages of Bhatapada panchayat open defecation-free (ODF) by ensuring 100% toilet coverage between 2003 and 2008. The panchayat was also felicitated with Nirmal Gram Puraskar in 2008. However, the ground reality was far different from what official documents claim.
Villagers of Bhatapada panchayat had lodged a complaint before the Union Rural Development Ministry stating that the claim was false. However, they knocked the doors of Orissa High Court as neither the local administration nor the Union Ministry heeded their plea. Later, the HC asked the state government to probe the matter.
In deference to the HC directive, the Panchayati Raj secretary, DK Singh, heard the villagers Tuesday and ordered an inquiry into the matter by the block development officer (BDO).
“There are two aspects to the case. One is independent investigation by the BDO and second is to provide toilets to the villagers. We will include the uncovered people under new scheme,” Singh told reporters here.
Earlier, irregularities in construction of toilets under Swachh Bharat Mission have been reported from various parts of the state including Sadar block in Bhadrak district and Hemgiri block of Sundargarh district.
