BHUBANESWAR: Even though Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has directed all Collectors to stop ‘percentage’ (PC) in development works, the practice seems to be continuing at all levels of the administration.
Former Congress MLA Santosh Singh Saluja alleged that there are several such instances in Tureikela block of Balangir district which is one of the poorest in the country. A memorandum in this regard has been submitted by chairperson of Tureikela block Anu Bhuea to Panchayatiraj Minister Pradip Maharathi, Saluja said.
Saluja said four road development projects were taken up in Tureikela block. But, payments to the contractors of the projects were released without counter signature of the chairperson of the block, the former MLA said and added that the BDO did not respond to queries in this regard.
The projects included improvement of road with culvert from Kuibahal High School Chhak to Mandala at a cost of `4.56 lakh, metalling of road from Mandala to Pakhamundala at a cost of `4.25 lakh under Biju KBK programme, metalling of road from Sargul Chhak to Khagasa at `4.32 lakh and concrete road at Andalpuri for `4.63 lakh.
The former MLA has sought the intervention of Maharathi and the Chief Minister to protect the interest of the poor people of Tureikela block. Bhuea was the first chairperson in the State who took oath in front of the block office on June 21 on not taking percentage (PC) in development work following the Chief Minister’s directive in this regard.