Bantwal: Narikombu GP Residents to Protest Corruption in Road Works
News & Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (RD)
Bantwal, Oct 31: The residents of Narikombu gram panchayat plan to create awareness among the citizens on the allegations of misappropriation of funds in carrying out the works on Shamboor - Sannakukku Road that was undertaken under Pradhan Mantri’s Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).
Despite crores of rupees having been spent on the works, there seems to be not much improvement in the condition of the roads, alleged the local residents and filed a complaint with the Lokayukta pressing for investigations.
Funds of Rs 340.3 lac was sanctioned under PMGSY for developing the 7.9 kilometre stretch of road in Narikombu gram panchayat. The estimated cost of Rs 49 lac for one kilometre of road was fixed. The costs cover the concreted drainage works, broadening of road, erecting of signboards, relocation of electric poles and clearing of trees along the road among others.
As the road works progressed in snail’s pace trough the monsoon season the connectivity of Shamboor village was cut off. Besides, the students and the residents were forced to cover a distance of 7 kilometres by foot since as road was rendered unmotorable.
Although the road works picked up momentum, the progress has been very slow. The works have not gone under way as per the original plan. The road has not been broadened, the culverts have not been constructed while a few culverts were painted to look as if they were newly-constructed. The electric poles too have not been relocated with the barrier wall for culverts remaining unconstructed. The signboard for carrying out the road works under PMGSY has not been erected at the site. The locals are determined to stage a united struggle against the injustice and corrupt functioning of the authorities concerned.
The Dakshina Kannada (DK) Youth Congress former president Bondala Jagannath Shetty speaking to media persons on the alleged corruption in road works, said that the locals will stage a united struggle against the alleged corruption on road works. The local gram panchayat president Anand Salian, members Lingappa Kottari, Gregory Baptist, entrepreneur Prakash Karant and agriculturist Manjunath Bhat among others will lead the protest in this regard, he added.