Akali sarpanch accuses own party leader of stalling funds - Says yet to get reply to RTI query on the delay in release of cheques
Tuesday, 12/08/2014
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2014/20140812/punjab.htm#12
Muktsar : Launching a fresh tirade against his own party, Surjit Singh, SAD sarpanch of Dhulkot village, has alleged that due to the intervention of a senior SAD leader of Gidderbaha, the cheques of grants sanctioned for his village by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his Sangat Darshan programmes about six months ago were not handed over to the village panchayat as yet.
“We have raised this issue with the Deputy Chief Minister too, but no action has been taken till now. The development works of the village have been stalled due to the interference in the working of the district administration by that leader,” said Surjit Singh.
He added, “We even sought a reply on the undue delay in handing over of the cheques by filing two applications under the RTI Act to the district development and panchayat office. However, two months have elapsed, but no reply has come.”
The sarpanch further informed that the Chief Minister had sanctioned funds amounting to Rs 12 lakh, which included Rs 5 lakh for a gym, Rs 4.5 lakh for an anganwari centre and Rs 1.10 lakh for a dharamsala, in January. Besides, some other works such as the construction of streets in the village are also pending because of this, he said.
“We have time and again raised this issue with the leader, who has stopped the cheques, but he tells us to approach him through an SGPC member, whom we don’t like,” claimed Surjit.
When contacted, Naval Ram, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Muktsar, said, “I am not aware of the current status of this case, but will soon check it. I will also investigate whether the reply to the RTI query has been given or not to the applicant.”
‘Village projects getting affected’
Surjit Singh, SAD sarpanch of Dhulkot village, alleged that due to a senior Gidderbaha leader, cheques of funds alloted to the village were not being released
He said the Chief Minister had sanctioned Rs 12 lakh for a gym, an anganwari centre and a dharamshala in January
