TURA: Villagers of Suringgre in West Garo Hills under the aegis of the Suringgre Development Committee (SDC) have alleged diversion of the Megha-LAMP Scheme allotted for construction of a half kilometer road from the PWD road to Suringgre Village, and have also submitted a letter of complaint in this regard to the West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner.
According to the villagers, the BDO of Gambegre had on December 21 last year issued a work order for construction of a road from PWD road to Suringgre Village under Megha-LAMP through Plastic Cell Technology (PCT). The work order was issued to the Junior Engineer of the block office where he was directed to start work immediately along with the technical assistant of MGNREGS and the Gram Sevak under the VEC.
As directed by the junior engineer, the villagers formed the Suringgre Development Committee following which the BDO issued a cheque of a mere Rs 30,000/- in the name of the Secretary as the first installment thereby, directing the committee to utilize it to enable the release of the 2nd installment of the fund along with photographs, bills and vouchers showing 50% of the work in progress.
“It is a fact that for the same nature of work, the BDO in the past has issued at least Rs 1,00,000/- in the first installment. How can you justify the release of mere Rs 30,000/- even to begin work? This amounts to discrimination of our committee,” it said.
The committee claimed that as the first installment of Rs 30,000/- was too meager to purchase the required materials, it looked towards other sources and was somehow able to purchase the same the cost for which amounted to Rs 1,10,000/-. However, more shock awaited them as when they approached the BDO on November 14 to seek the release of the second installment, they were told that the scheme had been diverted to Gambegre village.
In their complaint to the deputy commissioner, the committee has requested the conduct of an inquiry into the matter and to allow the completion of the village road which serves as a lifeline to the people residing in and around Suringgre village.