Grants info boards fail to serve purpose

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 25

The previous SAD-BJP government had installed a number of boards in villages to give information to the public about funds sanctioned for development works, but these have failed to serve the purpose as the information has not been updated since 2012-13.

These boards, painted yellow, are mainly installed on the outer part of villages. They are giving stale information. However, these boards were introduced to bring in transparency, so that people can know the total money spent on any work, its construction agency, contractor, etc.

However, due to the negligent approach of the officials concerned these boards are gathering dust and rusting. At some places, these boards have advertisements and pamphlets pasted on them.

Residents of some villages in the Gidderbaha and Lambi Assembly segments said the boards were installed to bring in transparency, carry details such as the name of sarpanch, total population of the village and number of MGNREGA card holders, but these have proved to be just wastage of money. “Not only the information is stale, but also some panchayats have dislocated the boards to avoid making public the information about grants sanctioned and works done,” they alleged.

However, when contacted, Harinder Singh Sra, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development), Muktsar, said he was busy somewhere.