Times
of India: Coimbatore: Thursday, 06 November 2014.
The panchayat
authorities in Nilambur were not only looting the government exchequer by
producing forged bills and unnecessary expenditure, but were also siphoning off
panchayat funds under the name of fake contractors.
RTI replies
obtained by a social activist has revealed that five contractors were granted
contract to carry out non-existent projects by Nilambur panchayat.
By claiming
Rs 9.09 lakh just for repair work of street lights to claiming salaries for
bogus workers, the panchayat president, vice-president and another staff have
allegedly siphoned off funds to the tune of Rs 1.90 crore.
According to
panchayat records, the civic body had paid money to Sri Ram Engineering Works,
Charu Engineering from Tirupur, Sri Palani Andavar Earth Movers and Suganthi
Traders in Coimbatore. But these contractors are not officially authorized to
carry out projects in the panchayat.
K
Ramamoorthy, the RTI activist, who brought out the irregularities alleged that
these companies don't exist at all as there was no TIN number in the bills,
which is mandatory. ''The authorities were also supposed to issue crossed
cheques for payment to the contractors. But the panchayat had issued ordinary
cheques. Bank records also reveal that the cheques were encashed in Nilambur
instead of Tirupur ot Coimbatore where they said to be registered,''
Ramamoorthy said.
The RTI reply
by a block development officer, Sulur, has revealed that there are 30
registered contractors authorized to carry out projects in Nilambur. ''But none
of these contractors were granted contract,'' Ramamoorthy said citing RTI
replies.
Yet another
glaring example of irregularities in the panchayat was awarding contract much
after the work was completed. An inspection by the district administration
revealed that tenders for a storm water drain project were invited on July 16,
2012 and the last date for bidding was July 20. But the report by the
inspection team submitted to the district administration found out that work
orders were issued on July 10 itself.
The RTI
replies revealed that the panchayat had spent Rs 85,000 every month for
purchasing bleaching powder and labour salaries that were claimed for 20 people
when actually only 10 were employed. Insecticides worth 67 thousand was bought
from three different companies in Gandhipuram, R S Puram and Thudiyalur but the
cheque was issued to just one company.
Collector
Archana Patnaik said she would take action against the accused. ''We have
issued a show cause notice to the panchayat president under Tamilnadu Panchayat
Act. We will initiate action soon,'' she said.
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