JAMUGURIHAT, Dec 17 - A scheme of upgrading of a road in Pub Borbhagia Gaon Panchayat under Naduar Anchalik Panchayat (AP), Jamugurihat was undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employement Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) at a cost of Rs 3,18,462.00 out of which Rs 1,99,654.00 was to be spent on labour payment (job card holders) and Rs 1,18,808.00 on materials (sand gravel). The work was the development of the left side embankment of the Bordikorai Irrigation Canal which crosses the NH-52 near Basudeva Than Kusumtola.
A portion of the embankment, 800 metres in length, from one Bharali�s house to one Saikia�s house was undertaken for development. Out of these 300 metres was left untouched totally and on the rest of the 500 metres, sand gravel was dumped by six tractors according to the local people. Ten job card holders were engaged in the work for two days, it is reported. A dump of sand gravel is still intact near Bharali�s house.
At the crossing at Kusumtola-Talakabari road, an ordinary tin signboard measuring 5 x 4 feet stands where the name of the work amount was shown, but there was no mention of the length of the road, the year of the execution and the date of the starting of the work, which should be publicly displayed according to Government norms. The people allege that hardly any amount out of the Rs 1,50,000.00 has been spent in the work.
Under the same gaon panchayat, the development of Barkalani fishery pond Opar Talakabari was undertaken at a cost of Rs 4,83,624.00 (labour payment Rs 4,64,282.00, material cost Rs 19,242.00). According to eye witnesses, an excavator was used to dig the pond, clear the jungles and the marshes but the pond still remained full of them. There was no scope of engaging job card holders and in the name of materials a 5 x 4 feet signboard with ordinary tin was put up. People feel that hardly Rs 2,00,000.00 has been spent out of the total amount. In the two works, more than Rs 8,00,000.00 was allotted and only about Rs 3,00,000.00 was spent. The people have demanded a thorough enquiry into the matter and to bring the corrupt officials to book.
