Kaptipada: The government attaches a lot of importance to effective implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission, but delay in clearance of bills to beneficiaries has hit the pace of its execution in Kaptipada block of Mayurbhanj district.
The delay in payment clearance has been attributed to alleged percentage commission (PC) demanded by officials. Reports said beneficiaries have built toilets after work orders from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (RWSS) wing, but beneficiaries have allegedly been frequenting panchayat offices to get the bills cleared. No official pays heed to their plight, though the authorities concerned have been asked to dispose of the pending bills.
In some cases, six months have passed since toilets were built, but bills have not been cleared. Reports said 13 beneficiaries of Swachh Bharat in Shalachua panchayat have sent written complaints to BDO Rabindra Kumar Mallick.
These beneficiaries were issued work orders June 18, 2018. They had built their toilets by themselves, without assigning work to contractors.
They had taken construction material from suppliers on credit. Some beneficiaries alleged that they had to face the fury of material suppliers as they failed to make their payment.
After repeated complaints, block coordinator and cluster coordinator had visited the houses of beneficiaries to verify the claims. Later, Rs 1,000 was demanded from them to clear the bills, said some beneficiaries.
In the complaint, beneficiaries like Durgaprasad Rath and Brundaban Rath stated that those beneficiaries who built toilets on their own are deliberately being harassed.
The BDO said he has received complaints in this regard. The officials in charge of this work have been asked to give clarifications.
However, the block and cluster coordinators have denied allegations of bribery. Payment of bills will be credited into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries soon, the BDO said.
PNN