Rs 40-crore grant for house repair in Lambi, probe on

Wednesday, 12/04/2017

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/rs-40-crore-grant-for-house-repair-in-lambi-probe-on/390645.html

Muktsar : An IAS officer has been asked to investigate the alleged discrepancies in disbursement of Rs 40 crore close to the elections in former CM Parkash Singh Badal’s home constituency Lambi.

The money was distributed in the form of cheques of Rs 15,000 for the repair of the house of poor in this waterlogging-affected area.

A number of people had raised objection over the criteria fixed for the identification of beneficiaries. Those left out had even raised their voice during the CM’s Sangat Darshans. The Congress (then in Opposition) too had sought inquiry in this regard.

This issue was highlighted in The Tribune on December 31 last year in its report — “It’s raining money in Lambi, cheque it out”.

A senior officer said the scheme was made for people affected from waterlogging in Muktsar, Fazilka and Gurdaspur districts.

“Maximum money was however disbursed in Lambi and not even a single penny was given in other three constituencies of Muktsar district comprising Muktsar, Malout and Gidderbaha,” said the officer.

Sources in the district administration claimed that many skeletons would tumble out if a fair inquiry was conducted. “A number of people used to come to meet the DC and ADCs regarding monetary assistance alleging that their neighbours had got three to four cheques in a family, but they had got just one. Some Congress workers too even left out from the benefit. It had raised doubts that something illegal was going on,” they said.

The panchayats were authorised to identify the beneficiaries, but not more than one in a family and the lists were prepared by the officials of the Rural Development Department.

Further, the resignation of BDPO, Lambi, had triggered a controversy, just ahead of the imposition of the model code of conduct, when the BDPO office was under intense pressure for disbursal of grants.

Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Sumeet Jarangal said, “The inquiry in disbursement of funds for the repair and construction of houses is being conducted by Muktsar ADC (D) Kulwant Singh. The whole process is being scrutinised and strictest action will be recommended against those found guilty.” He added, “Mostly cheques for Rs 15,000 each were given for the repair of houses. Besides, nearly 200 cheques for Rs 20,000 each as first installment of total Rs 60,000 for house construction were also given.”