Jhumpura: Even as crores of rupees were spent from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) on developing roads, bridges, drains, drinking water, water projects and school buildings in mining-hit areas, locals of Jumpura block in Keonjhar alleged that the fund of a road project was being misappropriated by putting up sub-standard work through contractors.
They accused the contractors of botching up the road projects and rake in moolah while there in no monitoring system to ensure quality work.
They said as the works are being carried out in hilly remote pockets, the district administration has little attention to the execution of the project.
Here is an example of a road project at Nischintapur panchayat under Jhumpura block. A road is being laid though hilly terrains from Haridajodi to Kanakana.
It was officially stated that Rs 20 lakh has been spent for returning a wall and uphill cutting. “But there have been a lot of irregularities. A road had been built earlier, but it was partially damaged. There was no need to build a fresh road all over again. The existing road was just to be repaired,” villagers like Muni Munda, Nituma Munda, Kanhu Munda, Chhotray Munda and Sukura Munda alleged.
“But, unnecessarily lakhs of rupees were spent in the uphill cutting work. Excavators were used for four days only while contractors took away lakhs of rupees towards bills,” the pointed out.
As per the scheme, there was a need to build drains along the road so as to carry away waters from the hills in rainy season, but the drains were not built, they said.
The rainwater will damage road, which be back to square one in just a few months, they lamented.
Jhumpura block GPTA, Manoranjan Mishra, who has been looking after the work, refused to make any comment on the work.
BDO Mamatarani Nayak said that she will look into the matter. PNN