8 months on, ADC submits Lambi grant disbursal report

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 19

The Muktsar ADC (D), who has been probing the alleged discrepancies in the disbursal of Rs 40-crore house repair funds in Lambi just before the elections, today sent his report to the Director, Rural Development Department.

Highly placed sources in the district administration said inquiry officer Kulwant Singh found no violation of the disbursal norms in his probe, which took about eight months to be completed. Though no senior officer admitted it on record, sources said the report did not recommend action against any official or politician.

Notably, the ADC was transferred on July 12 from here and posted as ADC (General), Pathankot. He was also given additional charge of Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Pathankot. However, when The Tribune published a report “Officer probing Lambi grant disbursal shifted” on June 14, the state government stopped his transfer orders the same day and directed him to first submit the report first.

ADC Kulwant Singh refused to comment on the report.

The controversy

The previous SAD-BJP government, close to the elections had made a scheme in 2016 to provide house to homeless people in waterlogging-affected districts of Muktsar, Fazilka and Gurdaspur by allocating nearly Rs 50 crore. The maximum amount of about Rs 40 crore was disbursed in Muktsar district, especially in Parkash Singh Badal’s home turf Lambi, in the form of cheques for Rs 15,000 each to beneficiaries for repair of houses. Besides, some cheques for Rs 20,000 each were given as first installment of a total of Rs 60,000 for the construction of house.

It however snowballed into a major controversy when some people raised objection that the Akalis were giving cheques to their men. Besides, the Congress activists too had termed it as an “attempt to woo voters”. Taking note of media reports, a report was sought from the district administration and inquiry was marked to the ADC (D) in December.

Rs 2 cr still unutilised

After the inquiry was marked, the district administration had stopped further disbursal of funds. As a result, Rs 2 crore is still lying with the administration. The beneficiaries who had started the construction work are demanding the second installment.

Beneficiaries await relief

• Taking note of media reports, a report was sought from the district administration and inquiry was marked to the ADC (D) in December last year
•  After the inquiry was marked, the district administration had stopped further disbursal of funds. As a result,  Rs 2 crore is still lying with the administration
• The beneficiaries, who had started the construction work, are demanding the second installment