UNNATI funds lie unspent in Nuapada

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Monday, 27 August 2018 |  | NUAPADA


The funds allotted under the UNNATI scheme for all-round inclusive development of the urban bodies in Nuapada district are lying unutilised due to squabbles between political parties to have greater shares in work contracts.
The Works Department codes for implementation of Government projects prescribe floating of tender, but the Collector of Nuapada has directed the executing agencies to implement the works departmentally.
“You know the reason, this being an election year and the ruling party eyeing not to dishearten its cadres,” explains a district official.
“When the Rural Works Division of Khariar was given the responsibility to execute the project, the concerned Executive Engineer (EE) had clearly expressed his inability to execute it departmentally and suggested for floating of tender. But, keeping the general and Assembly elections in mind, the party in power seems to have forced the district administration to implement the works departmentally,” said Chairman of Khariar Panchayat Samiti Balkrishna Sabar.
The Government has allocated a total sum of Rs 639.20 lakh to Nuapada district under UNNATI scheme. Khariar Road NAC has got the highest share of Rs 256.70 lakh followed by Nuapada NAC, Rs 208 lakh and Khariar NAC, Rs 174.50 lakh. The Collector, Nuapada vide her letter No.176 dated 20/06/2018 had sent the plan and estimates of the projects to EE, R and B, Khariar for executing the works in Nuapada NAC  and the EEs of RW divisions of Khariar and Nuapada for executing the works in the Khariar and Nuapada NACs respectively.
The letter clearly mentions that the works have to be implemented departmentally and this is where the run to get work contracts has begun. The BJD leaders had the impression that their cadres would easily get ward level leadership to do the works but the opposition parties are taking exception to such monopoly of the ruling party. The opposition has launching a scratching attack on the district administration over the allotment of work orders.
Youth Congress leader Rabi Mangaraj in his Facebook and WhatsApp posting has expressed that the administration is acting as an agent of the BJD. He has also filed a case in the Orissa High Court against the Secretary of Works Department and Collector for violation of guidelines and has prayed for execution of works through floating of tender.
In the Khariar NAC, the execution has stagnated as ruling party leaders did not get any share due to influence posed by Congress and dissident BJD leaders. The projects, it is learnt, were divided at a ratio of 60:40 between these two groups with the Congress taking the lion’s share. But, now the BJD workers are storming to the RW division office to claim their share and it is learnt the EE, RW is requesting the BJD dissident group to part with 10 per cent of their share. “The officials are not asking the Congress to part with their share, because their leader is more powerful,” said a BJD dissident leader.
“No one cares about development. How can a party claim share in public moneyij It is ridiculous. The works should be done through tender process according to the guidelines,” said Sabar.

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