BDO, PRI MEMBERS NOT IN SYNC IN KHARIAR
Friday, 18 May 2018 | AJIT PANDA | NUAPADA | in Bhubaneswar
All development works in Khariar block have come to a standstill due to a lack of better coordination between the BDO and the elected representatives of the Panchayat Samiti.
Projects under the Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana (GGY) which were approved by the District Planning Committee in February 2018 are yet to be started. By the time the BDO instructed the concerned staff for opening case files of GGY, the tenure of the Village Level Leaders (VLL) had expired. The process to select new VLL is going on and no one knows when the process will end.
The Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) funds for the year 2017-18 are yet to be allotted because the feasibility report and estimates for the projects have not been sent to the district planning office. “The JEs in the block are preoccupied with housing scheme and MGNREGS, where is time to see other projects,” reacted the JEs.
“Files of works under MGNREGS and PMAY remain pending on the table of the BDO for weeks. Neither the BDO, nor any higher authorities of the district conduct review of activities at block or Panchayat level, which is one of the causes of the stagnation,” said Chairman of Khariar block Balakrishna Sabar.
“The BDO, who has been transferred to his own district recently, was not having a good command over the staff. He always said that he was not being paid the salary of BDO and the Government is saving Rs 70,000 per month as he is in charge. Such careless attitude has led to delay in project implementation. Works suffers and development is hampered due to such unwarranted situations,” added Sabar.
Sabar informed that he has drawn the attention of the district administration, including Collector several times, but there is no effort to expedite project implementation.
“Funds for completion of five kitchen sheds have been released by the District Welfare Officer (DWO), Nuapada in February last, but till date, the case files have not been opened. It will not be possible to execute the projects in June at the advent of rain, which will result in a lot of sufferings for the boarders of ST/SC Ashram schools,” Sabar said further.
“Not only this, the BDO learnt to have delayed the payment of pensions to 185 beneficiaries, which was sanctioned under OAP/WP since long. I have intimated about this lackadaisical attitude of the BDO to the DSWO and the Collector but they are yet to act,” he lamented.
“Inability of the BDO to act in time, creates suspicion within the public that, he might be demanding more PC. This is a rumor we know, but we cannot check such propaganda, when there is a lack of interest within the higher authorities to address the existing problems. The callousness within the higher officials helps such apprehensions to establish root. People feel that the BDO and his bosses are working hand in glove,” opined a Samiti Member.
The district administration is not at all concerned about Khariar block. Both the Collector and the PD, DRDA fully understand what is going on here, but they are not taking any step. It is frustrating that, they never have officially interacted with the Samiti Members or Sarapanchs on development matters.
The post of ABDO is vacant, posts of three JEs and EOs are also laying vacant since long. What can an inexperienced in- charge BDO do? He will certainly try to save his skin,” said Samiti Member of Nehena Panchayat Santosh Mishra.
Most Panchayat representatives feel that the administration is on a back foot in regard to speedy implementation of projects in Khariar block, because it is not headed by a BJD member.
“The crux of the problem remains in distribution of work orders. I have given direction to the officials to work according to guidelines where as the BJD leaders want their contractors to take the work. The BDO seems to have succumbed to the pressure of such leaders,” said Sabar.
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