Keonjhar: With percentage commission or ‘PC’ culture turning out to be spanner in a road project of a tribal-dominated village in this district, residents have started laying the road with their own effort.
According to reports, the panchayat has sanctioned Rs 6 lakh for a road at Sarasinga village in Tukudiha panchayat under Jhumpura block, but the fund was left unutilized and the project could not be executed as the villagers failed to pay PC to some officials.
The villagers had no way but to carry out the road work with their own effort.
They alleged that a village level leader (gram sathi) received Rs 15,000 from the villagers to obtain the work order. Earlier, the villagers had arranged the money by selling their crops. At the time of paying money, the villagers had made a written agreement with the VLL. But the VLL did not return the money and told the villagers to meet the VLW to obtain the work order of the road.
The villagers met an employee of the panchayat in this regard who also demanded Rs 31,000 to issue the work order, the villagers alleged.
But the villagers expressed their inability to pay that much money. As a result, the road project remained incomplete.
“The fund was provided but it could not be spent. We had no way but to work with our effort,” the villagers alleged.
They sought to know why the fund was not spent and why they were made to cough up money for the work.
Many quarters view such an instance as a sad commentary on the state government’s effort to end ‘PC’ culture in the government work. This has come amid allegations of commission at the panchayat and officials levels to get housing units under IAY scheme.
Local leader Satyabrata Nayak demanded a probe into the matter and action against the people guilty.
Jhumpura BDO Mamatarani Nayak said that she has no information about the matter. “I would look into the matter if the villagers lodge a complaint. They should not work if the government funds are available,” the BDO added. PNN
