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Panchayat members swindle public money to construct personal houses 10/13/2016 11:40:39 PM Early Times Report Rajouri, Oct 13: Even as the MNREGA was supposed to offer better civic amenities to the rural populace, a Panchayat here in the previous years, swindled the money meant for public works to construct personal residential houses. The scam dating back to 2007-10 spell has just come to fore as one of the members of the then Panchayat, Nallah-Makol has spilled the beans. He said the money which would come to their bank accounts under centrally funded schemes for construction of roads and other facilities, was transferred into other accounts and used by some of his colleagues including the then Sarpanch to construct houses of their own. The whistleblower said around Rs 7-10 lakhs were swindled that time, in one "deal" and that it was just the tip of the iceberg of the scams in the rural district. "A gang of members from the Panchayat and some Block Level Workers never spent money on public works but ended up spending it to raise personal fortunes. The construction material which they procured for public works was spend on construction of bedrooms and kitchens," the former Panch told Early Times. He said he was pained to see that people continue to struggle for want of basic amenities when the government had actually earmarked the money for the same. As many as four villages failing under the Panchayat - Lahoti, Barnara, Makol and Nallah have been affected by the scam. "Not a single project funded under MNREGA was executed in these poor villages. The projects were executed but in paper work," he added. A senior official in the office of the Block Development Office declined to comment on the issue. Meanwhile thousands of inhabitants of these villages have appealed the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh and Divisional Commissioner Jammu to initiate an inquiry. "The government must handover the case to Vigilance department so that things get clear and those found guilty of swindling public money face action," the villagers said. The locals while appreciating the former Panch for spilling the beans said that such people should be appreciated and that his revelations should help government unearth the scam. "We'll not sit idle over these revelations but demand an inquiry so that the culprits are booked. But this is subject to if the government is really serious in weeding out corruption," the locals said.   Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network     Comment on this Story

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